Perez Hilton‘s mother has filed to obtain temporary custody of his three children following his self-harm livestream, The Daily Mail can confirm.

Hilton, 48, was taken to the hospital in Miami last Tuesday after the police received emergency calls alerting them to a potential suicide attempt.

Footage from the stream, which The Daily Mail has chosen not to republish, appears to show the celebrity blogger smeared with blood after seemingly having cut himself with a knife.

His team subsequently issued a statement assuring the public that his ‘children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family.’

On August 7, three days after the incident, his mother, Teresita Lavandeira, submitted a petition in a Miami family court to temporarily assume custody of Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight, according to records viewed by The Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail has contacted Hilton’s representatives for comment. 

Three days after the incident, Teresita Lavandeira, above with her son, submitted a petition in a Miami family court to temporarily assume custody of his three children

Hilton, 48, was taken to the hospital in Miami last Tuesday after the police received emergency calls alerting them to a potential suicide attempt. Above, in the hospital earlier this year

The day after Hilton was hospitalized, it emerged that his three children, as well as his niece and his sister, Barbara Lavandeira, 42, had been inside his Florida home in the minutes leading up to the livestream incident. 

A statement shared on Hilton’s website has indicated his family ‘immediately fled’ to protect the children from ‘witnessing any further trauma’ when it was clear Hilton was having ‘a severe mental health crisis and harming himself.’

Hilton’s team revealed over the weekend that he had sustained ‘significant blood loss’ as well as unspecified ‘additional injuries.’

According to the update, the one-time celebrity gossip blogger would ‘require surgery in the coming days’ to treat his injuries.

The statement also confirmed that Hilton ‘remains hospitalized under Florida‘s Baker Act,’ a law that allows for involuntary hospitalizations.

Due to the conditions of his facility and the Baker Act, they emphasized that the blogger’s ‘communication has been extremely limited and confined to immediate family, medical providers, and others directly involved in his care.’

The Baker Act – officially the Florida Mental Health Act – allows medical and mental health professionals, as well as judges and law enforcement officers, to involuntarily commit individuals for up to 72 hours if they are believed to be at risk of harming themselves or others. 

Hilton’s team emphasized that his ‘condition remains serious but stable,’ explaining that his ‘treatment and recovery’ would be a ‘long process.’

Teresita with Hilton and his two older children attending the 2018 premiere of Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween in Los Angeles

Hilton was hospitalized in March and shared pictures as he recovered from sepsis on the ward

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They also shared that he had been able to spend time with his mother and sister on Friday. 

Hilton’s team confirmed that his ‘children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family.’ 

Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s house captured the moment when law enforcement arrived at Hilton’s residence in Miami last Tuesday after fans reached out to 911 over concerns for his welfare. 

Police cars could be seen pulling up to the home not long after 7pm on Tuesday evening. 

Law enforcement was seen trying to coax Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, out of his home in the video. 

A deputy was heard calling out: ‘Mario, it’s the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, please step out of the house.’  

Clips taken from the footage appeared to show the media personality covered in blood while brandishing a knife. 

The livestream video has since been taken down by TikTok, and his account has also been suspended. 

Hilton’s team has confirmed he ‘remains hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act,’ a law that allows for involuntary hospitalizations

The livestream video has since been taken down by TikTok and his account has also been suspended

His family requested ‘privacy and space they need during this unimaginably difficult time’ 

The statement from Perez’s family continued: ‘Our family cannot express enough our continued gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time.

‘The events of the past several days have been nearly unbearable for our family.’ 

‘Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced. An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy.’ 

Hilton’s family also requested ‘privacy and space they need during this unimaginably difficult time’.

They added: ‘We will continue to provide updates on Perez’s condition through PerezHilton.com when we have additional information we are able to share. Again, thank you for your compassion, understanding, and continued prayers.’

Hilton had been hospitalized earlier this year in March and had shared pictures of himself on the ward while recovering from sepsis. 

He had developed an ulcer after taking flu medication on an empty stomach, which then led to a 21-day hospitalization. 

Hilton developed an ulcer earlier this year after taking flu medication on an empty stomach, which then led to a 21-day hospitalization. Above, last year

And just weeks later, the blogger faced another health crisis after experiencing ‘soreness and pain in one of my legs.’

Following an ultrasound, it was revealed that Hilton had a deep vein thrombosis.

‘I am so thankful to God that we caught this early because if that blood clot had gone to my lungs or my heart, it could have been real bad,’ he said on Instagram at the time. 

He soon gave another update on social media to share that he was able to ‘finally walk again’ as he used the help of a walker. 

Months before the distressing TikTok livestream, Hilton reflected on his health scares.

During an appearance on Fox News Media’s Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast, which had been recorded on July 14, he said: ‘I was in the hospital for 21 days, so I thought I was gonna die.

‘Especially because the first few days they couldn’t find where the perforation was and then I had all of these other issues. My body just started breaking down.’

He further explained: ‘I had fluid in my lungs. I went AFib. My heart issues. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong.

‘I’m 48 and I’ve never taken any kind of flu medication with food. And some medication, you don’t need to take with food. The flu medication you’re supposed to take with food.’ 

Hilton stated that he took both ‘Aleve and Tylenol’ on an empty stomach. 

‘I know, I did that for a week, and I developed an ulcer and a perforation and here we are.’

He soon gave another update on social media to share that he was able to ‘finally walk again’ as he used the help of a walker

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Hilton notably launched his celebrity gossip blog back in 2004, which was originally called PageSixSixSix.com. Shortly after, he changed the name to PerezHilton.com.

He has also befriended a number of Hollywood celebrities.

Back in 2021, Hilton admitted that he ‘regrets’ the way he covered Britney Spears’s breakdown in 2007.

He had garnered criticism for ‘bullying’ the Baby One More Time hitmaker after he previously called her an ‘unfit mother.’

He also released a shirt design on his website in 2008, which questioned why the pop star didn’t die instead of Heath Ledger.

The shirt had an image of the actor from his role in Brokeback Mountain as well as the words: ‘Why couldn’t it be Britney?’

‘I regret a lot or most of what I said about Britney as I’m sure Piers [Morgan] would if he were here about things he’s said in the past,’ Hilton said during an interview on the TV show Good Morning Britain.

The media personality added that he has grown over the years and expressed: ‘Thankfully, hopefully, many of us get older and wiser.’

If you or someone you know needs help in the US, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. If you are in the UK, call Samaritans at 116 123 for free. If you are in Australia, call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.

That one probably wasn’t in the training manual.

First responders in Washington, D.C., got an unusual surprise on Wednesday when a suspicious package outside an area fire station turned out to be a sex toy.

The device was reported to officials around 7 a.m., after a bystander saw someone leave it in the trash near the Tenleytown fire station.

The individual with the object allegedly approached a member of the firehouse, then left the device, which could be seen with exposed wires, behind.

The encounter triggered a large emergency response, which shut down Wisconsin Avenue NW from 40th Street to Warren Street for nearly two hours.

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department’s bomb squad and K-9 unit cleared the item, which was first thought to be a thermos.

Police later described the object as an “electronic sex portable pump device.”

News photos showed a technician carrying a blue and black cylindrical object about the size of a large water bottle.

The Independent has contacted the police department for comment.

The area has been cleared and reopened to traffic.

Though today’s firehouse incident was a false alarm, the threats in the nation’s capital are very real.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran recently warned that threat levels facing the agency are “off the charts” in the current political climate.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran has revealed that the current threat level his agency faces is “off the charts,” blaming a political climate more volatile than anything he said he has seen over his 24-year career.

Around 10,000 threats have been made against government officials and Supreme Court justices so far in 2026, a 40 percent increase on the same period in 2025, he said last month.

Last November, a bomb threat temporarily halted flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia.

American football player Travis Kelce has reflected on his wedding to Taylor Swift, telling US media that their nuptials were “the best night of my life”.

Kelce and Swift tied the knot on 3 July at New York’s Madison Square Garden in a star-studded event that was largely kept private.

Few details from the ceremony have been shared publicly and Kelce’s comments on Wednesday mark the first he’s shared since the couple were wed by comedic actor Adam Sandler.

“It was kind of cool to live out my childhood dream of being in that venue, the mecca of all sports venues, being able to get married there,” Kelce told reporters at the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp in Missouri.

Kelce called the wedding “the best night of my life”, thanking guests who attended and calling it “a crazy night”.

The NFL star and the award-winning singer have kept much of the details of the wedding private and there have been no official photos released of the ceremony held inside the stadium. A litany of Hollywood A-list stars, such as actors Hugh Grant and Jason Sudeikis, singer Benson Boone and model Gigi Hadid were in attendance.

Kelce said he had wanted to attend a game when the New York Knicks basketball team were having a good playoff run last year, but had other commitments. The team ended up winning the NBA championships for the first time in nearly six decades.

“My wife went when I was stuck in a mini camp so I didn’t get my opportunity to go then,” he said referring to Swift as his wife publicly for the first time. She sat courtside at Game 4 of the NBA Finals, when the Knicks pulled off a stunning upset against the San Antonio Spurs in a 107-106 finish.

Work is set to begin on Monday (August 17) to resurface Beckfield Lane in York as part of the city council’s Highways Maintenance Programme.

The scheme is running from Wetherby Road to the junction of Lidgett Grove and will begin on Monday and is expected to be completed by Friday, September 4.

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The project – which follows recent upgrades in the area, including footpath resurfacing, drainage improvements, new bus shelters and improved tactile crossings – will be delivered in two phases to reduce disruption.

Phase one, from Wetherby Road to Ostman Road, will run from August 17 to August 24 and during this phase, access to Ostman Road will be maintained from the Boroughbridge Road end of Beckfield Lane.

Phase two, covering Ostman Road to Lidgett Grove, will begin on August 25 and is scheduled to finish by 5pm on September 4 – with residents able to access Ostman Road from the Wetherby Road end.

Beckfield Lane will be closed to traffic between 8am and 5pm on weekdays throughout the works, but will reopen in the evenings, on weekends, and during the August Bank Holiday (August 31).

Pedestrian and mobility aid access will be maintained at all times, however cyclists will be diverted via Boroughbridge Road, Carr Lane and Wetherby Road during both phases.

Buses will follow their normal routes until 9.30am each day, after which services will be redirected until the road reopens at 5pm.

Councillor Kate Ravilious, executive member for transport at City of York Council, said: “Having already completed significant road resurfacing works at Bishopthorpe, Osbaldwick and Monks Cross, amongst many others across the city, we continue to deliver our record programme of planned Highways Maintenance works for 2026/27 alongside emergency repairs.

“We’re responsible for over 500 miles of roads across the city and maintaining them is crucial in helping everyone to get around the city efficiently. We’re grateful for everyone’s patience while our contractors get this work done.

“Businesses in the area are very much open for business and we encourage residents to continue supporting them through this period.”

Carers and residents requiring transport to medical appointments will be allowed through the closure, and businesses needing daytime deliveries are asked to contact the council.

Waste and recycling collections will continue as normal and emergency services will always be permitted.

Lane Rentals Services will carry out the works on behalf of City of York Council.

An experienced detective sacked for allegedly calling trans-women ‘c**s in frocks’ has hit out at the way her case was handled and told how she has had to increase security at her home for fear of activist attacks.

Detective Constable Rachel Fletcher, 49, today denied ever having used the derogatory phrase but did say she had issues with the way she feels trans rights have been put ahead of women’s rights.

Ms Fletcher is now set to pursue an unfair dismissal and discrimination case on the grounds of her gender critical beliefs -and insists that her views on trans issues have been misrepresented by Northumbria Police.

Speaking from her home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Ms Fletcher said she has received ‘incredible support’ since she was dismissed from the force following 23 years of service – a civilian in the force for six years, and then a cop for 17 years.

‘I have been sent support from members of the public, colleagues, former colleagues, people I went to school with and politicians,’ said the single mother of two.

‘People have reached out on X and I’ve had loads of messages from retired cops, saying “keep going”, “you’re doing the right thing” and that it all needs to be challenged.

‘I’ve had very few negative reactions.’

But Ms Fletcher denies the allegations against her.

‘I didn’t say “c***s in frocks”, although that is going to be attached to my name for the rest of my life, even though I didn’t say it,’ she laughed.

But she does recall the context and location of where she was alleged to have made the remark.

‘I absolutely remember the conversation. I was talking about the search guidance that was in place at the time, which had been brought in very quietly in 2021,’ she said.

It was the strip search guidance for police officers strip searching members of the public who had been brought into custody.

‘The policy was basically self ID. So, for example, if a male police officer declared himself as female, then he would be permitted to carry out any and all searches on other females, so other female prisoners,’ she explained.

‘And, vice versa.

‘And, anyone who objected to that could be deemed to have objected on the basis of discriminatory views and have a hate crime recorded against them.’

Recalling how the ‘c’***s in frocks’ phrase may have been misheard by colleagues at Gateshead Police Station, during the frank discussion amongst themselves, Ms Fletcher said: ‘I was talking about imagining a brand new female recruit going into custody who has to conduct a strip search of a prisoner.

‘She might be with her tutor constable. She goes into custody and is told “we need you to strip search a woman”.

‘That would be really daunting for her anyway, because the first time you do things like that, it is terrifying.’

Ms Fletcher, who served as a child protection detective and later a family liaison officer, explained that when conducting a strip search on males or females, the top half is searched first. The prisoner is asked to remove their upper clothing and a visual search is done.

Ms Fletcher today denied ever having used the derogatory phrase but did say she had issues with the way she feels trans rights have been put ahead of women’s rights .

Then, the upper clothing is replaced and the lower garments are then removed by the prisoner so a visual search of the bottom part of the body can be conducted.

She continued: ‘Once naked on the bottom half, they are asked to bend over, so the officer can check whether anything could be concealed.

‘You don’t touch them at all, but you are looking at somebody’s private parts. It couldn’t be any more degrading for them.

‘Imagine someone identifying as a woman undressed their bottom half, and there was a c**k.

‘How would that young female officer feel? Would she have the confidence to say “Hold on a minute, this isn’t right. I shouldn’t be doing this?” – because I don’t think she would.’

She said the word ‘c**k’ was used among colleagues who do the same job and are well-used to such language.

‘We spend all day talking about sex offences,’ said the experienced child protection and family liaison officer.

‘We have heard and use every possible name for body parts in our line of duty. Victims use every possible word for genitalia, etc, when interviewing victims and suspects.

‘People don’t always use correct anatomical language, and if I’m asking someone to tell me what happened to them, I would ask them to use their own terms and language.’

She said all officers are ‘desensitised’ to often vulgar words, and she would not use them at home or amongst friends, or the public.

‘But it is language I would use in the office, because it is completely normal there,’ she said.

Ms Fletcher said she was not shocked when she was dismissed on 31 July for gross misconduct allegation of making the ‘c**ks in frocks’ remark and ‘all men are rapists’.

‘Again, I didn’t say “all men are rapists”, I said “all rapists are men”.’

She said she joked about putting all men on a 9pm curfew to stop nighttime rapes.

‘It was a total joke, and everybody in the room, at the time, knew it was a joke,’ she said.

‘It is not something I would support in reality.

‘I am absolutely looking forward to fighting my case at an employment tribunal.’

Meanwhile, Ms Fletcher is trying to enjoy the summer holidays before trying to find alternative employment.

However, she has been forced to take measures for her own safety.

‘I’ve had to put CCTV cameras on my house because I knew all this would be public, and I’m expecting to get death threats and things like that. I haven’t had any yet, but I am expecting that.’

Ms Fletcher’s employment tribunal case is listed for November, next year.

Rics chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn, said: “The housing market remains subdued, and while that is not usual over the summer months, it is clear from the Rics seasonally adjusted data, that the combination of geopolitics, the domestic political climate and the cost of mortgage finance are continuing to weigh on sentiment.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said the organisation is ‘disgusted’ with the level of vandalism

Lives have been put “in danger” following a rise in vandalism this summer, including at locations along the River Nene. The Environment Agency said it is “disgusted” by the level of vandalism.

The agency has urged the public to stop tampering with sluices, locks, and other water control structures. A spokesperson said: “Environment Agency water control structures suffer repeated vandalism which puts lives at risk and worsens drought impacts.”

According to the Environment Agency, Ashton Lock, near Oundle, has been “one of the worst-hit sites”. Vandals damaged its winding wheel, which meant it had to be removed for repairs.

A temporary fix was fitted, then stolen. The lock’s guillotine gate, which controls water flow, was then tampered with too, draining water needed for wildlife and navigation.

The spokesperson added: “Damage to water infrastructure is making it harder to manage already low water levels and is putting people at risk. Tampering lowers water levels, disrupts navigation, harms wildlife and habitats, and creates serious safety hazards.”

In a separate incident at the same lock, people took a life buoy and its rope from a safety station, used the rope to tie open the lock’s doors, then wound up the guillotine gate, draining water upstream. This has happened repeatedly and has been reported to the police, the Environment Agency revealed.

Elsewhere, people have tried to break into control panel boxes, climbed on guillotine gates, and jumped into locks where there are “hidden hazards due to the infrastructure, putting themselves at serious risk”, according to the agency.

In a statement, the Environment Agency said: “A common problem on the River Nene is people manually winding up lock paddles which then drain the stretch of river above. The worst-affected stretch is between Upper and Lower Barnwell locks, home to Oundle Marina, where some residents live aboard their boats.

“Water levels there drop quickly and, during drought, can take a long time to recover. People have also been reported climbing onto or breaking into weed-cutting boats left on the riverbank during maintenance.”

Ben Thornely, Area Manager for the Environment Agency, said: “We are disgusted with the level of vandalism we are experiencing at our vital water control structures. This puts lives in danger and has big implications for wildlife and navigation during drought. If you witness vandalism or antisocial behaviour at our assets please report it to the police and to us on 0800 807060.

“The Environment Agency is taking action to protect its infrastructure, including placing volunteers at Great Ouse sites to discourage vandals, having CCTV at some locations with some linked to council control rooms with speakers, plus regular and additional safety inspections and more.”

Other locations affected by waterways vandalism include:

• Northampton Town Lock;
• Whiston Lock;
• Billing Lock;
• Upper and Lower Wellingborough Locks;
• Irthlingborough Lock;
• Denford Lock;
• Nine Arches Mooring;
• Lower Barnwell Lock;
• Elton Lock
• Alwalton Lock.

The store is Cambridge’s only branch of the popular chain

Cambridge’s only former WHSmith store is set to close. Former WHSmith stores underwent a major restructuring when it changed its name to TG Jones in 2025.

As a result, this resulted in all stores across the country changing their names. As part of the restructuring plans, some stores were, or are due to close.

The TG Jones branch in Market Street, Cambridge, which is the city’s only store, is closing on September 14. A TG Jones spokesperson said: “Following the approval of the TG Jones restructuring plan, our store on Market Street in Cambridge will be closing on September 14.

“We are currently supporting our in-store colleagues during this process, and we would like to thank all of our loyal customers who have shopped with us during our time in the town.”

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

Nothing moves in the Ukrainian city once known as the Soviet Union’s ‘capital of glass’. 

Kostiantynivka’s streets, buckled and deformed from years of artillery fire, missiles and bombs, are deserted. Its houses lie crumpled in ruins.

The factories that gave this faded industrial titan its moniker – and forged Lenin’s crystal sarcophagus and the ruby–red stars that still adorn the Kremlin – lie abandoned. Or so it seems.

‘Look at the screen,’ Volodymyr says, gesturing to live, full colour images from an observation drone that hovers hundreds of metres above in the eastern region of Donetsk. 

‘It looks like an empty city – but it isn’t,’ whispers the 42–year–old Ukrainian drone pilot, who cannot be fully identified.

‘Our people are there. The Russians are there. Nobody dares show their face. That’s what war looks like now.’

Hiding from swarms of drones that map every inch of this war–ravaged hellscape, among the ruins and the foliage provided only during the summer months, Russian infiltration teams and Ukrainian defenders are engaged in a desperate fight that will decide the next turn of this war.

The Daily Mail was given rare access to the Seraphymy Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 104th Independent Territorial Defence Brigade in Donetsk last month.

The Daily Mail was given rare access to the Seraphymy Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 104th Independent Territorial Defence Brigade in Donetsk last month

A Ukrainian-made Vampire heavy bomber drone loaded with bombs takes off during a test flight along the fortress belt in the Donetsk region in May 2026 (file photo) 

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Here we witnessed the battle for Kostiantynivka, one of four cities in the Donbas that make up Ukraine’s ‘fortress belt’. 

Logistically vital, the belt stands between Moscow and its stated war aim to seize this region – and collectively forms the backbone of Ukraine’s remaining defences in Donetsk Oblast.

While many feel it is only a matter of time before Kostiantynivka falls (it has already been breached by up to 200 invaders), the manner in which Ukraine has harnessed drone innovation to slow Russia’s advance may offer a blueprint for how it repels them completely from the three remaining key cities.

In short, the revolution happening here will determine if this will be the last great fortress Russia takes – and, if that proves to be the case, could ultimately force Vladimir Putin to finally enter peace talks.

Kostiantynivka is the stuff of science fiction. Within the 15–mile ‘kill–zone’, vehicles, heavy armour and tanks have all but disappeared in the past 12 months. 

Artillery, still vital, is heavily camouflaged and used sparingly. Too big. Too easily spotted. Here, where drones rule the skies, they often become ‘weapons of self–destruction’.

Instead, men move in ones and twos, from foxhole to foxhole, cellar to cellar. Detection from above is death.

The second human activity is identified, the entire building in which it is spotted is brought down by drones. 

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a Bohdana self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops (Pictured: November 29 2025)

‘People are like ants,’ Volodymyr explains. ‘They’re hiding, crawling, constantly moving underground. The moment someone is spotted, 15 drones are on their way.’ Shaking his head, he adds: ‘It’s a terrible war.’

But Volodymyr is not among the ants. Thanks to cunning Ukrainian innovation, he is piloting his hulking 17in bomber drone from 37 miles away in a secret location the Daily Mail was invited to.

On larger drones such as this, Kyiv has attached Starlink terminals to give them a secure satellite connection that is largely unjammable. 

It means bomber pilots who once sat within three miles of their machine have been moved out of the kill–zone.

This is a game–changer. Lest the peril for those who remain on the frontline needs spelling out further, beside Volodymyr’s observation screen and a tablet showing the tactical map of the city sits a third monitor which we were not allowed to photograph. 

It carries the day’s operational picture. A Russian soldier has been located in a house. That is now the target.

Reconnaissance crews, drone pilots and commanders coordinate the strike in real time. 

The operation unfolds in silence. The drone pilots continue talking over the radio. A bomber drone releases its munition. It fails to explode. The Russian soldier breaks cover, sprinting from the house into a patch of bushes.

A First Person View (FPV) kamikaze drone carrying a 1.5–kilogram high–explosive dives after him. 

The onboard picture rushes into the foliage – and disappears. There are no cinematic explosions here. The screen simply goes black. 

This is how soldiers meet their maker in the 21st century. Volodymyr is now free to go and make a cup of coffee. His radio sits within arm’s reach. 

Ukrainian serviceman walks near apartment buildings damaged by Russian military strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the frontline town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region (Pictured: December 18 2025)

Whenever reconnaissance identifies another target in the ruins of Kostiantynivka, he returns to his workstation, takes control of his bomber drone and flies another mission.

This way of waging war is the brainchild of Mykhailo Fedorov, the recently sacked Defence Minister whose dismissal by Volodymyr Zelensky after just six months in post prompted nationwide protests earlier this year. 

In his previous role as head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, Fedorov ramped up drone procurement on an unprecedented scale in response to Russia’s 2022 full–scale invasion.

It was here that the concept of the Drone Line – using unmanned systems as the backbone of a front held by too little infantry – received institutional backing. 

Given Ukraine has only a modest air force and a serious manpower challenge, the concept was to harness drones to preserve the lives of personnel and repel the Russians. 

The unmanned systems would be used to establish a kill‑zone through which the enemy cannot advance without sustaining heavy losses.

When Fedorov was promoted to Defence Minister in January, the Drone Line program surged drastically, as he pumped 90 per cent of the weapons budget (not including the vast arsenals supplied by the West) into robotic warfare.

This way of waging war is the brainchild of Mykhailo Fedorov (Pictured: July 1 2026), the recently sacked Defence Minister whose dismissal by Volodymyr Zelensky after just six months in post prompted nationwide protests earlier this year

In Kostiantynivka, this has manifested in its most extreme form.

Russia had begun creeping assaults on the city and by May this year, as explained, some 200 men had successfully infiltrated.

Yet this city has not fallen. With Ukraine’s increased drone capabilities, invaders are identified and liquidated almost instantly.

‘What fascinates me is the war we’re fighting now,’ Serhii Kostynskyi, commander of the battalion, tells us. 

‘The way we fought in 2022 and 2023 was terrifying. You spent your days being blanketed by artillery. The enemy never had to come within rifle range. They simply erased you with artillery and mortars. Then the tanks moved in. The Russians had an overwhelming advantage in artillery – it really was the First World War.

‘Now it’s different. Both we and they have an incredibly wide range of tools at our disposal.’

Within the kill–zone, infantrymen are scattered in teams as small as two or three. Hiding in dugouts and basements, they largely act as lookouts to call in drone strikes on any infiltrators.

Unmanned robotic vehicles support them with supplies and evacuate casualties. 

Giving them cover are pilots, also hiding on the frontline, who fly FPV kamikaze drones on gossamer–like fiber–optic cables. 

These drones, which have a range of about nine miles and cannot be jammed, are launched by a separate team of soldiers.

A year ago troops would drive into position, unload and speed away, but the proliferation of enemy observation and attack drones means that’s now impossible. 

So the launchers enter in pairs, on foot. One pushes a handcart loaded with drones, batteries and ammunition. The other walks ahead, scanning the ground for mines with a drone detector around his neck.

A Ukrainian serviceman walks along a road near anti-drone nets and destroyed military vehicles as he takes part in a mission to protect the stretch from Russian drones between frontline towns of Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka

Flying high above the kill–zone to avoid Russian electronic warfare are Ukraine’s Queen Bee motherships, whose pilots are several miles behind the frontline. 

These carry swarms of smaller FPV strike craft and drop them up to 20 miles deep behind enemy lines.

Then there are the heavy bombers loaded with anti–tank mines and mortar shells connected to pilots like Volodymyr via Elon Musk’s Starlink dishes. 

They use thermal imaging cameras to erase Russian armour and smash concrete fortifications while their crews are safely out of range. 

Protecting both men and machines are interceptor drones – ultra–fast, highly agile quadcopters equipped by AI tracking, which take out surveillance drones and effectively blind the enemy.

The Drone Line is stitched together with a constant layer of fixed–wing AI reconnaissance drones that map every inch of the battlefield and feed it live into a battle management system.

Software automatically flags shifting pixels on digital screens, instantly identifying hidden Russian troops and automatically sending the coordinates to the nearest drone crew. 

Russia possesses a roughly similar array of drones and this is an ongoing, evenly matched contest.

For the moment, Ukraine holds the advantage thanks to grassroots initiative and integration into Western technology – most importantly Starlink. 

It is little wonder the men of Seraphymy believe a day may be coming soon when men are all but removed from the battlefield. 

Volodymyr thinks soon every drone, not just heavy bombers, will operate through Starlink. Reconnaissance crews and FPV teams will no longer have to occupy exposed positions on the edge of Kostiantynivka’s kill–zone.

Instead, he is adamant they will work from rooms like his, with coffee machines, reliable internet connections and dozens of kilometres separating them from the battlefield.

Within the kill–zone, infantrymen are scattered in teams as small as two or three. Hiding in dugouts and basements, they largely act as lookouts to call in drone strikes on any infiltrators

For the moment, Ukraine holds the advantage thanks to grassroots initiative and integration into Western technology – most importantly Starlink

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He adds: ‘Within a year, infantry will all but disappear from the kill‑zone. Ground robots will carry weapons. Everyone will be sitting behind a control console, connected through Starlink, miles from the fighting.

‘Watch what happens over the next six months… everything will be done remotely. That’s the direction this war is heading.’

Despite Fedorov’s untimely removal, investment continues to pour into Ukraine’s drone units. 

The 104th Independent Territorial Defence Brigade is already in the final stages of raising a second unmanned systems battalion. 

Seraphymy, a territorial brigade, is one of the lowest rankings in the army, yet is receiving cutting–edge supplies. In just six months, the army is aiming to increase the number of drone crews sixfold.

Military expert Bob Seely, a partner in Ukraine–UK defence firm Trypillian, says: ‘We are witnessing a significant evolution of warfare. Sadly not enough soldiers and politicians in the West understand this.’

Moving pilots out of the kill–zone has long been ‘a Ukrainian priority’ and as a consequence we are now seeing ‘the rise of the machines’, Mr Seely, a former MP and British soldier, adds. 

‘It is likely that war in the future will be largely fought by decision–making machines – overseen at least on our side by humans,’ he said.

‘It’s the quality and survivability of your machines that will dictate whether you win or lose.’

While observers marvel at Ukrainian advances, experts generally push back on claims that the infantry will disappear. 

Anton Zemlianyi, Senior Analyst of Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, said such claims are ‘premature’ as control of territory ‘continues to depend on the infantry’.

Paraphrasing Mark Twain, Retired American Colonel Frank Sobchak, professor at the US Naval War College, said: ‘Reports of the infantry being outmoded are greatly exaggerated.’

Noting how often before this has been falsely predicted, he adds: ‘The infantry will always have a role on the battlefield, as there is no other element that can seize and hold terrain.’

While it is still unclear how NATO would fare in such a war, despite its vastly superior logistics and air power, the alliance is undoubtedly playing catch–up.

Ukraine is in the ascendancy but it has learnt this guarantees nothing. The pendulum could swing back as early as this autumn.

Russia is already rolling out technology it believes can jam Starlink. It is looking for alternatives to use itself offensively.

This is why Mr Zelensky’s removal of Mr Fedorov at such a critical juncture is so troubling.

Now the widely respected General Mykhailo Drapatyi has taken over as Commander–in–Chief while former head of intelligence Yevhenii Khmara is Fedorov’s acting replacement.

It must be hoped that they can quickly get to grips with this revolutionary battlefield as well as the Ministry of Defence, which spends more money than all the country’s other ministries combined. 

The future of Kostiantynivka, and the rest of Ukraine, depends on it.

Andy Burnham was today considering imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as Britain braces for one of its hottest days on record.

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee this afternoon as the sixth heatwave of the year builds with 33C forecast today and up to 38C tomorrow.

Mr Burnham will meet with ministers, officials and agencies and revealed on a trip to Stevenage this morning that single-use grills could be banned to help prevent fires. It comes eight days after the Government said it was not planning to introduce such a ban. 

Rail operators have warned against non-essential travel with several having already cancelled services as passengers were told to brace for major disruption.

East Midlands Railway and Chiltern Railways both told customers to ‘only travel if essential’ tomorrow; while reduced services were confirmed by c2c, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Northern, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway.

The Met Office has issued a rare 15-hour amber ‘extreme heat’ warning for southern and central England from 9am tomorrow – only its second such alert in four years.

The whole of England has also been put under an amber heat health alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) until Friday night, which warns of a ‘rise in deaths’.

A 38C high tomorrow would make it Britain’s joint fifth hottest day on record – tying with that same temperature in Norfolk on June 26, which is the current 2026 high.

It comes as a firefighter union chief warned Britain faces a ‘national emergency’ amid ongoing wildfires, with the country on course for its hottest summer on record.

Some 45million people across England are now in drought-stricken areas, and 27million customers are under hosepipe bans as rivers and reservoirs run low.

Parts of southern England including Hampshire and West Sussex have now gone 60 days without rainfall, and there are no downpours in the immediate forecast.

People walk across the parched grass at Primrose Hill in north London this morning

People collect bottled water at a distribution centre in Loughton, Essex, today after burst water mains left more than 10,000 homes and businesses with no water or low water pressure

Firefighters try to deal with a big blaze in Eton near Windsor in Berkshire this morning

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Allotments in Basingstoke, Hampshire, today as parts of the UK are set to bake in 38C heat

Parliament Square in London today during the drought which has hit 71 per cent of England

Crosland Heath Golf Club in Huddersfield has dry grass on the fairway and a lush putting green

Cows feed in a parched field near the village of East Meon in Hampshire this morning

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Speaking about the possible barbecue ban, Mr Burnham said: ‘There is obviously a significant problem of wildfires in the south. The New Forest fire is a great concern; we have seen them in northern areas as well as Suffolk recently.’

He added: ‘This is a message for the public as well, because the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.’

Mr Burnham continued: ‘I do believe we need to get the message out loud and clear. People should not be using those barbecues outside at this moment in time.

‘I don’t know yet what the remedy is, but I do want to leave the meeting today with a loud and clear message that we do want people to take the greatest possible care when they are out in the countryside, both in terms of cigarettes, but also those temporary barbecues that we know are causing risk of fires.’

It comes after a Government spokesperson had insisted on August 4: ‘There are no plans to introduce a blanket ban on disposable barbecues.’

Most major UK supermarkets suspended sales of disposable barbecues in recent weeks, which is understood to have been in line with voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

Jon Pearce, the Labour MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, also wrote to retail giants last week asking them to stop selling single-use grills for the rest of the summer. He said he expected the Government to act before next summer and would continue campaigning for a ban.

Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Home Office and Department for Health will attend today’s Cobra meeting.

The Environment Agency will also be present at the discussions – the second Cobra meeting this year on heatwaves after another during similar weather in June.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the Government understood firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all facing challenges connected to the weather.

The Government urged the public to pay attention to warnings, and advised people to drink plenty of fluids and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be at high risk.

A No 10 spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of COBR – the government emergency committee – this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought.

‘We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A&E units.

‘We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.’

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: ‘While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued.

‘High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day by day.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in Stevenage today that single-use grills could be banned

Dry grass at Blackheath in south-east London yesterday with Canary Wharf in the distance

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The cracked and parched earth of Stew Pond at Epsom Common in Surrey yesterday

‘Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.’

Meanwhile Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned the UK faces a national emergency ‘right now’ with fires across the country.

Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July was the busiest month on record for wildfires with 458 incidents, the NFCC said.

Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have battled a fire in the New Forest, which started after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday.

The area hit by the blaze is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.

Mr Wright told Times Radio: ‘In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these.

‘They do not have the new modern personal protective equipment, the lightweight fire kit that we wear, the right helmets, lightweight helmets, breathable uniforms to make sure they’re better protected, their health is protected when they’re out dealing with these incidents for hours and hours on end.’

The Government said it had announced £97million in new funding to upgrade national firefighting capabilities, including off-road vehicles and specialist equipment.

The Liberal Democrats and Green Party both welcomed the Cobra meeting being convened but called for further action.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: ‘What we urgently need is concrete action.

‘That must include taxing fossil fuel giants to pay for firefighting helicopters, a cool space in every community, and a maximum working temperature.’

Lib Dem environment spokesperson Pippa Heylings said: ‘Emergency meetings alone will not put out fires or protect our communities – we urgently need a national strategy to make the UK climate-ready.

‘Extreme weather warnings, widespread water shortages and wildfires raging across our countryside are a stark reminder that the climate crisis is gripping the country, yet the Government is moving at a snail’s pace, waiting until the fifth heatwave this summer to act.’

Rick Parfett, WWF’s head of climate policy, said: ‘Convening a Cobra meeting underlines that extreme heat, drought and wildfires are no longer distant risks. They are immediate threats affecting communities across the UK today.

‘As climate change drives more frequent and extreme weather, the Government must focus not only on emergency response but also on tackling their root cause. Licencing the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields would lock in future emissions that will strain our NHS, emergency services and communities even further.

‘The UK must roll out clean energy across the UK to cut bills, drive local growth, and ensure our buildings and farms are fit for future temperature rises. Nature is our best ally in tackling climate change as well as its impacts like extreme heat and flooding. That means restoring and protecting nature now, so it is more resilient to the climate extremes we know are coming.’

Nearly three quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, after a record dry July and very dry start to August has combined with high temperatures to put pressure on water resources.

Southern Water has applied for a rare non-essential use ban drought order, which, if imposed, would mean businesses must stop using water for activities such as cleaning cars and filling non-domestic swimming pools.

Met Office satellite views show the transformed landscape from May (left) to Monday (right)

In its application, the firm said an ‘exceptional’ shortage of rain in the South East ‘demonstrates a clear threat to supplies within the Hampshire Southampton West (HSW) water resource zone, as well as the Isle of Wight (IOW)’.

It added that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could ‘soon be significantly affected by a restricted water supply’.

The application will now be considered by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, with a decision expected as soon as possible.

A non-essential use ban has not been imposed for 20 years, with the last one granted to Sutton and East Surrey Water in May 2006.

Elsewhere, water stations opened in Ilford, east London, and Chigwell, Essex, after burst water mains left more than 10,000 homes and businesses with no water or low water pressure.

Thames Water said the affected areas were: E10, E11, E17, E18, E4, IG10, IG2, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9 and RM4.

A spokesman for the utility company said: ‘Our teams continue to work in the extreme heat to fix the multiple broken pipes in the area. We’re sorry to those who are still affected.

‘Whilst progress is being made, it’s taking longer than normal to fix the broken pipes as often excavations are needing to be extended.

‘We’re still working on the repairs at both Chigwell Road and Daisy Road, and extra teams are in the area to carry on the work. We’ll be working 24/7 until things are back to normal.

‘To enable the repair, some currently not affected may notice they lose their supply for a short period. Once completed, this will mean a larger area’s water will begin to flow again.’

Record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to the deaths of more than 2,800 people, while parts of the country were hit with further heatwaves last month as England and Wales endured their driest July since records began in 1836.

A fifth heatwave of the year was declared early last week.

Provisional statistics from the Met Office show that the mean temperature for the summer so far, from June 1, stands at 16.48C – which is 1.88C above the 1991 to 2020 average.

To equal the 16.12C in 2025, the UK’s warmest summer on record, the rest of August would only need to be 0.21C below the long-term average, and any warmer than this would establish a new record for the country, the Met Office said.

And for England and Wales, which have seen temperatures more than 2C above average so far this summer, it is even more likely that June to August 2026 will be record-breaking.

The Environment Agency said 71.3 per cent of England is now experiencing ‘flash drought’, as a dry start to August followed the country’s driest July on record.

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Flash drought is one which develops very quickly because of a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures.

East Midlands Railway said that regional services between Sheffield and Liverpool will be suspended today and tomorrow.

Regional services between Nottingham and Worksop and Nottingham and Leicester will also be suspended from noon tomorrow.

Philippa Cresswell from the operator said: ‘The hot weather means we’ll need to make some temporary changes to our services to keep the railway operating safely.

‘If you do need to travel and the journey is essential, we’d recommend travelling before midday and checking your journey before setting off.

‘We appreciate these changes may inconvenience some customers and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work to keep people moving safely.’

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘There are heat health alerts in place again this week – this means temperatures are set to rise significantly, and people should take extra care.

‘Keep an eye on elderly relatives, neighbours and loved ones, or anyone who might really be feeling the heat, just as we would during a cold spell in winter.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat health alerts across England

A UK heatwave is official when a location records at least three consecutive days of daily maximum temperatures which meet or exceed a specified threshold – which varies by region

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‘I want to thank NHS staff who are once again stepping up to cope with the extra pressures that hot weather brings.

‘Extreme heat can be dangerous, so staying aware of warnings and alerts in place can make a real difference.’

There are also warnings older people are more at risk from the extreme heat – with Age UK’s charity director Caroline Abrahams saying that as people age, their bodies find it harder to adapt to extremes of heat and cold. 

She added that most homes in the UK were not designed to cope with extreme heat, so it is important to keep them as cool as possible.

Keeping curtains and windows closed during the hottest part of the day and opening windows overnight when temperatures fall can help.

Farmers have warned of a ‘brutal harvest’ for crops and a lack of feed for livestock, and there have been warnings of food price inflation shocks later in the year.

The Food and Drink Federation said ‘fruit, vegetable and grain supply’ are being hit by the heatwaves, with these crop shortages then set to feed into supermarket prices.

Economists from the trade group suggested that this will put upward pressure on food inflation going into 2027.

The drought has even revealed the remains of a lost village which was demolished and flooded in the 1970s to create the Rutland Water reservoir in the East Midlands.

Stonework and the outlines of buildings in Nether Hambleton can now be seen because of the low water levels.

Separately, a report warned the UK’s treasured historic green spaces are under increasing threat from climate extremes.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England warn that historic parks, gardens and cemeteries are vulnerable to damage from harsher, more widespread drought, intense rainfall, more severe storms and pests which can thrive in warmer conditions.

These impacts are said to be affecting all aspects of these heritage landscapes, from trees and plant collections to paths, terraces and lakes.

Stay away from Dunwich Heath amid ongoing fire risk, warns National Trust

The National Trust has warned people to stay away from Dunwich Heath until the area has been assessed following a devastating wildfire, amid a risk of further flare-ups.

More than 100 hectares of heathland habitat have been destroyed by fire at the Suffolk reserve since it took hold almost two weeks ago, the conservation charity said.

The fire service said on Monday that the fire has been stood down as a major incident but crews remain on scene damping down the affected area and monitoring for hotspots.

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Coastal winds are stirring up ash and debris, rabbit burrows and warrens have retained significant heat and trees with burnt root systems are vulnerable to collapse, the National Trust said.

Parts of the landscape have been left unrecognisable, making it harder to navigate, and fires spread along cliffs putting their stability at risk and making the beach below unsafe.

Russell Clement, general manager for the National Trust, praised all of Suffolk’s 35 fire stations, the 18 fire services from around the country and others who ‘worked tirelessly to tackle this fire’.

The aftermath of the wildfire at the National Trust site Dunwich Heath in Suffolk

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More than 100 hectares of heathland habitat have been destroyed by fire at the reserve

The National Trust said there are still parts of the fire ground that they have not yet been able to access to map and record hazards.

Work to assess the full site is under way and is likely to take some weeks, the charity said.

Mr Clement said: ‘Right now… the best way people can help is by staying away from the reserve.

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‘We know how important Dunwich Heath is to the local community and visitors alike, but we need to ensure it is safe before anyone returns.’

Unexploded ordnance dating back to Operation Kruschen during the Second World War has been exposed by the fire, the National Trust said.

While specialist teams have already made some discoveries safe, there could be more.

‘We very much look forward to welcoming visitors back to Dunwich Heath, when it is safe to do so,’ said Mr Clement.

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Coastal winds are stirring up ash and debris at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk

The fire has been stood down as a major incident but crews remain on scene

‘With no rain forecast and continued hot weather, there remains the risk of further flare-ups in the days and weeks ahead, which will require the fire service back on site.

‘In the meantime, Dunwich village remains open and we’d encourage people to support the local businesses, which are such an important part of the community.’

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While Dunwich Heath remains closed, supporters can follow updates through the National Trust’s website and social media channels.

A fundraising appeal launched by the National Trust to help support Dunwich Heath’s recovery has raised more than £600,000.

The National Trust is also asking people to sign a petition calling on Government to make climate resilience a national mission, invest in nature to reduce environmental risks and support Fire and Rescue Services with the funding needed to prepare and respond to wildfires.

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