A Russian news Telegram channel, Astra, has confirmed that a Ukrainian missile and drone strike on occupied Crimea caused substantial damage to Russian military infrastructure overnight on 21 September. Russian Telegram channel Astra cited emergency service sources in detailing the aftermath of the attack.

Multiple locations hit across occupied Crimea

Astra reported that the 21 September strike targeted at least three separate locations used by Russian forces in Rozdolne, Simferopol, and Saky districts. The attack reportedly involved both drones and, likely, Neptune cruise missiles.

In northwestern Crimea’s Rozdolne district, two strike drones hit a column of the 31st air defense division near the village of Volochaivka. The drones reportedly destroyed a radar installation of an unspecified model that was part of the mobile air defense unit.

In the Simferopol district, central Crimea, Astra said another drone exploded near the village of Donske, damaging a mobile Pantsir-S1 air defense system. One Russian serviceman was reportedly injured in this strike.

Damage to support infrastructure confirmed

Beyond mobile systems, the strike also hit support facilities used by the same air defense division. According to Astra, two additional strikes—likely carried out with Neptune cruise missiles—damaged several buildings belonging to the 31st division near the village of Vityne in the Saky district in Crimea’s west. These included a barracks, a military club, a training building, and a canteen.

On the day of the attack, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that its forces intercepted 12 drones over Crimea and 4 more over the Black Sea during the night.

Two major Nordic airports shut down overnight due to drone sightings but resumed operations before dawn. The incidents at Copenhagen and Oslo disrupted dozens of flights and triggered investigations in both Denmark and Norway. The drones “disappeared” before they could be recovered, and no drone was identified or captured.

Drone activity shuts down Copenhagen and Oslo airports

Late on 22 September, authorities in Denmark and Norway halted all flight operations at their main airports after drones were spotted in restricted airspace. According to Reuters, Copenhagen Airport suspended all takeoffs and landings from 20:26 local time, citing reports of two or three large drones near its airspace. Around 50 flights were diverted to other airports, FlightRadar reported, according to Suspilne.

Reuters cited Copenhagen Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jakob Hansen, who said, “The police have launched an intensive investigation to determine what kind of drones these are. The drones have disappeared and we have not taken any of them.” Hansen added that Danish and Norwegian police would investigate possible links between the two incidents.

Oslo Gardermoen Airport followed with its own shutdown after drone activity was observed overhead, including near the Akershus Fortress, according to Suspilne. Reports of drones first came in around 23:30. At first, traffic was moved to a single runway, but after another drone was spotted, all operations were suspended. The airspace was reopened by 03:22, according to Norway’s Avinor.

VG reported that at least 12–14 flights were diverted from Oslo. Communication chief Monica Fasting at Oslo Airport told VG that six cancellations were reported by early morning and more delays were expected throughout the day. She confirmed to NTB that airspace was shut down for safety reasons.

Explore further

Pål Jonson: Sweden prepared to act if airspace is breached — military response remains an option

No drones recovered, investigation ongoing

Oslo police operations leader Gisle Sveen told VG that law enforcement had not been able to confirm the presence of drones within the restricted zone. Another police official, Pål Bjelland, said authorities were collecting reports to determine whether the sightings were actually drones or other flying objects.

Norwegian police said two individuals had been detained for illegal drone activity in Oslo earlier on 22 September. PST, Norway’s security service, is monitoring the situation. In Denmark, PET and the Danish military are also involved in the investigation.

Swedish outlet Aftonbladet reports that Sweden has declared its readiness to use force to protect its airspace. This stance follows recent Russian violations over NATO territory and echoes similar statements from Poland and the UK.

Sweden signals readiness to respond with force

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that Sweden will defend its airspace and has the right to use military force if necessary. He told Aftonbladet that “Sweden will defend its airspace,” and added:

“No country has the right to violate Swedish airspace. Sweden has the right to defend its airspace, with force if needed, and will defend it.”

Jonson noted that the Swedish Armed Forces are already guided by the IKFN directive. This legal framework allows the military to respond to airspace violations, including by using weapons. He emphasized that this includes the right to use force “with or without prior warning.”

NATO allies echo similar threats after Russian violations

Following Russia’s drone incursion into Poland and the Estonian airspace violation by Moscow’s fighter jets, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has issued his own warning, stating Poland will not hesitate to shoot down any aircraft or drones that violate its territory. 

“We will shoot down flying objects when they violate our territory and fly over Poland. There is absolutely no discussion about it,” Tusk said at a press conference, according to Reuters, cited by Aftonbladet.

Tusk also stressed the importance of a unified NATO response, saying he must be certain “that all allies will treat this the same way we do.”

UK says armed confrontation may follow

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that UK forces and NATO allies are prepared for direct armed confrontation with Russia if needed. She said that aircraft entering NATO airspace without clearance “open the door for direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia,” as quoted by British media.

Exclusives

Russia’s D-30SN built with Irish, Swiss, US components destroys 15,000-m² Ukrainian civilian facility in single strike. Foreign parts flow from factories to battlefields, powering strikes that ordinary people cannot outrun.

Ukraine built weapons, bureaucracy blocked exports. Zelenskyy’s export announcement highlights the urgent need to fix the system blocking Western partnerships.

Military

Frontline report: Ukraine systematically dismantles Russian air defenses in coordinated campaign spanning hundreds of kilometers

. Ukrainian forces are executing a methodical campaign to destroy Russian air defense systems from Donetsk to Crimea, achieving air superiority through system demolition rather than fighter dominance.

ISW: Ukraine war enters critical new phase as Russia builds strategic reserves. Russia is forming a strategic reserve and has signed contracts with nearly 292,000 new recruits, increasing pressure on eastern Ukraine.

Drones hit FSB-linked resort complex in occupied Crimea that allegedly housed high-ranking Russian officials — three died. The main restaurant of the resort was closed for “special service” on the day of the attack. Anonymous sources claim “very important guests” were present and the FSB maintains operations there.

Ukrainian special forces report destruction of Russian S-400 launcher in Russia’s Kaluga Oblast. Ukrainian attack drones struck an S-400 Triumph air defense system in Russia’s Kaluga Region, destroying a missile launcher and its attendant radar unit, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported on 22 September.

Ukrainian drones struck railway substation critical for military supply in Russia’s remote Krasnodar Krai. Russian Telegram channels published video footage showing the overnight attack on the “Kanevska” traction substation that serves as a central hub for electrified railway sections.

First time in combat history: Ukraine destroys rare Soviet-era amphibious planes in occupied Crimea. The Be-12 “Chaika” amphibious planes targeted by Ukrainian special forces serve as Russia’s primary tool for detecting submarine movements in Black Sea waters.

“Deliberate terror against peaceful city:” Russian bombs kill three civilians and destroy homes and schools in Ukraine

. Three civilians died in Zaporizhzhia on 22 September when aerial bombs struck residential neighborhoods during the 40-minute bombardment.

Intelligence and Technology

Kremlin agents used EU territory as covert highway to arm kamikaze drones for attacks on Ukrainians. The SBU raids Kyiv and surrounding regions, seizing evidence of a sophisticated operation to improve drone strikes.

Russia controls 1 in 5 “shadow fleet” oil tankers worldwide to dodge sanctions and fund war. The deceptive practices emerged after Europe banned Russian seaborne imports in late 2022 in response to its aggression in Ukraine, forcing Moscow to redirect sales to India and China via longer, more expensive shipping routes requiring additional vessels.

International

Russian-backed networks target pro-European trajectory of Moldova amid upcoming elections. Nearly 12% of the country remains under Russian-backed authority, a staging ground for destabilization operations.

Moldova detains 74 over alleged Russian-backed election unrest plot

. Authorities say the suspects trained in Serbia on firearms and crowd-control tactics and were allegedly instructed by Russian operatives ahead of parliamentary elections.

Zelenskyy to meet with over 20 world leaders during UN General Assembly. Ukraine will host a global summit on returning kidnapped children during the UN General Assembly.

Ukraine insists on tender to buy 20 Korean electric trains – Deputy PM. Deputy PM Kuleba announced Ukraine would use open tenders to select Korean electric train suppliers during his Seoul working visit, as the country seeks to expand its high-speed rail capacity despite recent Russian attacks on existing rolling stock.

Humanitarian and Social Impact

“Intention to kill”: UN confirms Russia’s systematic drone attacks on civilians amount to crimes against humanity. A UN inquiry has documented systematic Russian drone attacks over 300 kilometers of front-line territory, striking civilians, homes, and first responders.

Summit on returning abducted Ukrainian children to take place during UN General Assembly. Zelenskyy will meet with world leaders during a week of high-level diplomacy at the UN General Assembly, the president said during his evening address.

Read our previous daily review here.

Jerzy Tyc, a Polish citizen who headed an organization dedicated to restoring Soviet war memorials in Poland, has died while serving in the Russian army fighting against Ukraine.

The 60-something Pole had been living in Russia for years before joining Putin’s army under the call sign “Zygmunt.” His death was confirmed by authorities in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on their official Telegram channel.

Received Russian medal for restoring Soviet monuments in Poland

Tyc’s story reveals the complex loyalties that persist decades after the Cold War ended. He led the Kursk Association, which restored dozens of Soviet soldier monuments and graves across Poland. The work earned him Russia’s “Memory of Defenders of the Fatherland” medal in 2020, personally awarded by then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

But Polish authorities saw something different. Russian officials claimed Tyc faced “strong pressure from the Russophobic authorities of Warsaw” and was eventually “forced to leave his homeland.” In recent years, he had been living in Russia before joining the military campaign against Ukraine.

Criticized Polish government on Russian TV

Tyc regularly appeared in Russian media outlets where he criticized Polish government policies. According to RMF24, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova received a group of activists from his association during a televised event several years ago.

Yet in a 2019 interview with TASS, Tyc insisted ordinary Poles supported his work—drawing a sharp distinction between what he saw as hostile government officials and sympathetic citizens.

“For 11 years I have been restoring monuments to Soviet soldiers, traveling throughout Poland. Never has any resident raised a hand against me,” he said. “But this is what officials and politicians say.”

Believed in the “return of Polish-Russian friendship”

In a 2023 interview with the Russian portal gornovosti.ru, Tyc outlined his background, explaining that he had graduated from military school but left the army in 1989 when political changes began in Poland.

He subsequently served in police before dedicating himself to what he called fighting “falsification of history, destruction of monuments, war with the dead.”

“Poles and Russians fought together against a common enemy, but this history is inconvenient for the current Polish authorities, who would prefer to forget about it,” Tyc stated in the interview. He expressed belief in the “return of Polish-Russian friendship.”

That belief ultimately led him to die fighting against Poland’s neighbor and ally. Russian authorities said he “remained faithful to his beliefs until the end, fighting neo-Nazis”—the Kremlin’s standard propagandist justification for its aggression in Ukraine.

Russia has built a secret EU network to supply Ukrainian SIM cards for its kamikaze drones. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has recently apprehended FSB agents who organized a large-scale operation to supply Ukrainian SIM cards to Russian combat drones through European Union countries.

Kremlin uses the EU as a war platform

Agents purchased Ukrainian SIM cards and routed them via the EU to Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga in Tatarstan, the largest drone manufacturing hub in Russia. The SBU is conducting investigations to hold all network participants accountable within EU territory.

Internal agents and recruitment

Russian operatives recruited residents from Kyiv Oblast, including a former law enforcement officer, as well as employees of Ukrainian mobile operators, to collect intelligence “from within.”

This allowed the occupiers to improve communication and navigation for their combat drones.

SBU documents and stops FSB activity

During raids, authorities seized smartphones containing evidence of contacts with FSB handlers and foreign accomplices, as well as SIM cards prepared for shipment to Russia. The detainees face charges of high treason under martial law, carrying potential life imprisonment and property confiscation.

The operation was carried out by SBU officers in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast with support from the Internal Security Department of the National Police and the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.

Today the biggest news comes from the Russian Federation. 

Here, Ukrainian forces are systematically striking Russian air defense systems across hundreds of kilometers. 

After months of preparation, Kyiv’s strategy is now fully visible: destroy radars, launchers and control modules until the skies are open and air superiority is established.

Precision strikes from Donetsk to Crimea

A few recent operations reveal the scale and precision of Ukraine’s effort, as near the town of Bukhoyavlenka in the Donetsk region, a Russian Buk-M1 launcher was hunted in real time. 

A reconnaissance drone tracked it to a building before a bomber drone began tearing the roof apart, finally dropping an explosive directly onto the system and causing a massive ammunition explosion. 

In Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian forces destroyed a rare control module of a Barnaul-T air defense control system, a central node that links radar with launchers and can coordinate multiple launches at the same time.

In Rostov, one of Russia’s Neboyu long-range radars was struck overnight, with fires confirmed by NASA FIRM satellites. 

Further north, another radar site of a Sobkatu system in Voronezh was hit, reportedly destroying its antenna. 

And in Crimea, Ukraine neutralized Podlet and Nebo-M radars, a sign that even protected sites deep within the peninsula are vulnerable.

Fragmenting Russia’s defense network

These attacks span thousands of kilometers, but share a clear operational goal of systematically dismantling the infrastructure that keeps the air defense network functional. 

By knocking out early warning radars and central coordination modules, Ukrainian forces create time gaps in detection and response while effectively blinding connected missiles. 

By destroying intercept launchers with their own radar and control module built in, such as the Pantsir or Buk systems, they undermine Russia’s ability to patch holes in their layered defenses. 

By finally targeting systems, like Barnolty, which coordinate radar data, firing orders, and even external assets, they sever the entire command structure and ability of the Russian network to work together. 

The more fragmented Russia’s air defense grid becomes, the more exposed its rear area is to follow-up strikes from Ukrainian bombers, drones, or cruise missiles.

Multi-domain arsenal of weapons

Near Orlivka in Donetsk, Ukrainian reconnaissance drones adjusted fire onto Russian OSA and Strela-10 launchers, with artillery finishing the job, a typical frontline engagement against short-range systems. 

Heavier bomber drones are used for structural targets or soft-skinned vehicles, as in the Bohoyavlenka and Oleksievka strikes, where they ignited stored ammunition and set several launchers ablaze. 

Shark UAVs frequently assist in locating and guiding these strikes to their targets. For deeper targets, fixed-wing kamikaze drones are launched to strike radar installations in Rostov, Voronezh or Crimea. 

And in rare cases, Ukraine has used their fighter jets for complicated set-and-dead missions to suppress or destroy enemy air defenses. 

Geolocated footage already shows one of such missions, with the MiG-29 fighter jet launching radar-seeking missiles to target and strike Russian Tor and Buk systems in Zaporizhzhia. 

The range and variety of these tools show that Ukraine is no longer just improving, it is executing a coordinated multi-domain campaign to disable Russian air defenses.

Expanding 300-kilometer kill zone

The campaign continues daily and has now widened in scope, as in Zaporizhzhia, multiple S-300B systems have been destroyed in separate strikes north of Oleksiivka, with kamikaze drones eliminating another Buk-M3 nearby. 

In Western Crimea, Ukrainian drones targeted relay sites near known air defense positions, with fire markers visible even on satellite imagery. 

In Luhansk, partisans blew up a Russian mobile air defense group guarding a repair base, reportedly linked to earlier atrocities in Bucha. 

North of the border in the Kursk region, a Russian surface-to-air missile site was destroyed near the village of Rozhava, making it the northmost confirmed strike of the campaign. 

From Krasnodar Krai to Kursk, Ukrainians are striking Russian air defenses and creating a kill zone up to 300 kilometers deep into Russian-controlled territories.

System demolition over fighter dominance

Overall, Ukraine is not just blinding Russian air defenses, it is taking apart the system that makes them effective. 

Russia air defense systems are not infinite, each destroyed S-300 or Buk system costs millions to replace, requires specialized parts and strains an already overburdened military industry to meet wartime needs. 

This is not air superiority in the classic sense of fighter dominance, but a complete demolition of radar, control and interceptor assets to give Ukrainian air power freedom of movement across the front line and deep into occupied territory, as the Ukrainian air strike offensive only seems to intensify.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

The Kremlin is reportedly preparing a large-scale operation to derail Moldova’s European trajectory and weaken President Maia Sandu’s government. According to Bloomberg, Moscow aims to discredit the ruling party, Action and Solidarity (PAS), and destabilize the country ahead of the parliamentary elections on 28 September.

Kremlin’s plan: disinformation and protests

Leaked documents outline multiple tactics: recruiting Moldovans abroad to vote in an organized manner, staging protests and calls for government resignation, running large-scale disinformation campaigns on social media, and leveraging compromising material against officials.

Young men from sports clubs and criminal groups are expected to be mobilized for provocations during and after the elections.

On Monday, 22 September, Moldova already detained 74 people suspected of preparing violent unrest. 

Officials said the suspects had traveled to Serbia for training that included firearms handling, crowd-control tactics, and provocations during protests, allegedly under instruction from Russian citizens. Participants were reportedly paid around €400 each.

European officials sound the alarm

European authorities warn that Russia is highly likely to attempt most of these measures. Support for pro-Russian parties in Moldova ranges from political consulting to direct funding.

President Maia Sandu has previously warned of voter bribery, cyberattacks, paid protests, and disinformation campaigns, urging international partners to strengthen monitoring of democratic processes.

Elections and Moldova’s future

These elections will shape Moldova’s European path. Recent polls suggest PAS may retain the lead, but without a parliamentary majority, leaving room for political maneuvering by the opposition, which is actively supported by Moscow.

The situation remains tense, and Russian attempts to influence the outcome could determine the country’s political direction for years to come.

Authorities in Moldova said Monday they detained 74 people suspected of preparing violent unrest ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections on 28 September, Moldovan media outlet NewsMaker reports.

The arrests highlight concerns about Russian interference in Eastern Europe’s fragile democracies. Moldova, a small former Soviet republic bordering Ukraine and Romania, has recently pursued closer ties with the European Union. 

Moscow has historically exerted influence on the country through political networks, disinformation campaigns, and covert operations. Russian-backed forces have maintained de facto control over Transnistria, a narrow strip of land bordering Ukraine that comprises roughly 12% of Moldova’s territory, since the early 1990s.

Analysts say destabilization efforts ahead of elections could undermine Moldova’s pro-European government and threaten the country’s internal security.

Officials said the suspects had traveled to Serbia for training that included firearms handling, crowd-control tactics, and provocations during protests, allegedly under instruction from Russian citizens. Participants were reportedly paid around €400 each.

The investigation, led by the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office and the General Police Inspectorate, began in July 2025.

Training in Serbia and Russian coordination

Officials said some recruits were lured to Serbia under the pretext of religious pilgrimages before being drawn into the training program. Police said they were also taught how to resist detention by authorities.

Alexandru Musteața, head of Moldova’s intelligence service, said the operation was coordinated by Russian security services, with planning on the ground in Moldova led by Andrei Pavlov, who allegedly directed recruitment through a network linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.

Communication was primarily via Telegram to maintain anonymity, Musteața said.

Authorities carried out more than 250 searches across the country, including at four prisons, and seized weapons, ammunition, camouflage clothing, tents, passports, and other materials.

Police said links to Moldovan political parties and criminal groups were uncovered during the investigation. Socialist Party leader Igor Dodon said four party members were among those detained.

If convicted, the suspects face four to eight years in prison.

The detentions come days after reporting by Bloomberg and the BBC highlighted Russian attempts to influence Moldova’s elections through disinformation and covert operations.

President Maia Sandu has warned that the country’s independence and pro-European course are under direct threat.

A Ukrainian military-intelligence portal that publishes information about sponsors and accomplices of Russia’s aggression has uncovered the production network behind the Russian guided glide bomb D-30SN. Identified suppliers include manufacturers from Ireland, China, Switzerland, the United States, Taiwan, and Japan.

The intelligence service presented a list of 36 enterprises involved in its production cooperation; some of these still evade sanctions pressure.

Why is D-30 SN especially dangerous?

This bomb is not a simple free-fall weapon. It is fitted with aerodynamic surfaces like wings or special gliding surfaces that allow it to glide, significantly extending its flight after release from an aircraft. Its guided accuracy enables large-scale destruction.

To operate under electronic warfare conditions, the D-30 SN’s navigation system includes a satellite navigation module with an adaptive antenna array (CRPA) or the “Kometa-M8” familiar from other systems. This provides the navigation signal with resilience to jamming and interference commonly used to disrupt guided munitions.

The D-30SN can be carried by Su-34, Su-30SM, Su-35, Su-24 aircraft, and the S-70 “Okhotnik” UAV. When released from altitudes of 12–15 km, its effective range is up to 100 km.

Preliminary reports indicate that these glide bombs can also be launched from ground platforms, such as 300 mm Tornado-S MLRS, using a booster motor.

Conventional air-defence systems do not always intercept D-30 glide bombs because of their range, high accuracy, and gliding characteristics.

Who is responsible for D-30SN assembly?

The patent holder and main organizer of UMPB production is the Russian corporation Tactical Missile Armament Corporation (KTRV). The principal manufacturer is an enterprise within the corporation, the JSC Concern “Granit-Electron”.

Dozens of enterprises involved in D-30SN production are long known for their ties to Russia’s military-industrial complex and are already under sanctions by most members of the sanctioning coalition.

What’s inside the D-30SN?

Ukrainian intelligence has found a part from the Irish manufacturer TE Connectivity inside this bomb — a low-level signal relay IM06 12VDC.

TE Connectivity has operated in industrial technologies for about 80 years. The relay is an important element in the electrical control systems of a complex navigation-guided bomb, ensuring stable operation in combat conditions. In 2024, TE Connectivity agreed to pay $5.8 million in fines related to illicit supplies of goods, including wires and connector assemblies, connected with certain military projects in China, Reuters reports. 

Ukraine also found a Chinese sensor MT6701 STD 243 produced by Shanghai MagnTek Microelectronics Inc. (MagnTek). This company has been sanctioned by the US in the context of supplying microelectronic components to Russia. Nevertheless, these parts continue to be found in Russian weapons, which have killed at least 13,800 civilians in Ukraine (not counting the hundreds of thousands of victims in occupied cities such as Mariupol).

Also among the identified details was a Schottky diode SS54 by Yangzhou Yangjie Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. The company is based in Yangzhou near Shanghai and has ties to several sanctioned Russian enterprises, including Simmetron Electronic Components, which supplies the Russian military. Despite sanctions, supplies continue and contribute to Russia’s battlefield capabilities in Ukraine.

Yangjie is the parent company of the US manufacturer Micro Commercial Components (based in California) and has production and R&D facilities in China, Vietnam, Japan, and Taiwan. This makes the company’s role notable in the context of sanctions circumvention and support for Russia’s military industry.

Another Chinese component found is a step-down DC/DC converter by XLSEMI, which has also been blacklisted by the US and other Western countries. Nevertheless, its deliveries persist.

Ukraine’s intelligence has uncovered a quartz resonator ATS8SASM CTS172131 by American CTS Corporation in a deadly D-30 SN bomb. CTS Corporation appears on lists of companies whose products or components have repeatedly been found in Russian weapon samples on Ukrainian battlefields despite sanctions. This points to challenges in export-control enforcement and the difficulty of stopping illicit flows of military-related technology to Russia.

Another US company spotted in the list is Linear Technology Corporation (Analog Devices), which supplies DC/DC converters LTM4613V and LTM4615V. The US and EU have also sanctioned it for supplying microelectronic components to Russia, including for Orlan-10 UAV production.

Two Swiss companies were also detected in the D-30SN: STMicroelectronics and U-blox. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, U-blox has halted sales to Russia, Belarus, and the occupied territories of Ukraine.

Nevertheless, U-blox modules have still been found in Russian-made reconnaissance drones. The company explains that such components could have been removed from civilian devices such as e-scooters, e-bikes, and cars and repurposed for military use.

How does Russia circumvent sanctions?

The ability of Russian President Vladimir Putin to circumvent Western sanctions is one of the major shortcomings of the Western response to the war in Ukraine. Rather than becoming economically isolated, Russia, after more than three years of war, feels relatively confident.

According to a New York Times, Russia’s technology imports often begin when US chipmakers sell products to international distributors. Chip manufacturers are not legally required to track the downstream destinations of their goods.

What should be done?

What should governments do? 

• Approve a list of goods subject to enhanced export controls.
• Prohibit their re-export to Russia, Belarus, Iran, and D​PRK.
• Formalize strengthened inspection procedures for shipments to high-risk jurisdictions.
• Increase penalties and liability for violations and negligence; involve banks in compliance checks (similar to AML/CFT measures).
• Exchange information and synchronize efforts with other countries.

What should manufacturers and distributors do?

• Create a list of products whose shipments require enhanced scrutiny.
• Approve and regularly update screening procedures that take into account recommendations, red flags, and common sanction-evasion schemes.
• Distribute new screening policies to counterparties and include compliance clauses in contracts.
• When products are discovered in the aggressor’s weapons, investigate supply chains, inform stakeholders and governments, and take measures to stop deliveries.

According to ISW: for the first time since its full-scale invasion began, Russia has achieved what had long eluded the Kremlin: operational breathing room. Since January 2025, Moscow has signed contracts with 292,000 new recruits more than the active armies of most European countries allowing fresh troops to be held back from the front lines.

Russian troops are attempting to advance in the different directions but Ukrainian units demonstrate flexible defense and a high level of coordination. 

Falling Russian casualties in August and September have enabled the formation of long-anticipated strategic reserves key for any future large-scale offensive. Meanwhile, Ukrainian partisans are striking deep behind enemy lines. On 21 September, the Atesh group sabotaged a key railway in Russia’s Smolensk Oblast, disrupting supply lines to a major plant producing Kh-59 cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft parts. Over 10 control elements were destroyed, potentially halting deliveries for weeks.

ISW reported that in the north, Russia continues to build buffer zones along the Sumy and Chernihiv borders. This is not just about defense it’s about staging future offensives. Deployed units include Black Sea Fleet marines, the 72nd Motor Rifle Division, elements of the elite 106th Airborne Division, and the Anvar special unit.

In Kharkiv Oblast, the battle for Vovchansk reflects Russia’s attritional approach. Waves of infantry attack across the Vovcha River under relentless drone surveillance and strikes. Near Kupiansk, Russian troops have seized Kindrashivka and pressure Ukrainian positions daily. Analysts say Russia trades lives for minor territorial gains.

In the Borova-Lyman direction, Russian forces attack from multiple directions. Pro-Russian sources claim the capture of Shandryholove, though independent confirmation is lacking. In Donetsk, most attacks have failed, but near Pokrovsk and Velykomykhailivka, Russia has advanced, deploying six battalions against single Ukrainian units.

ISW mentioned that Russian progress stalls, attacks on civilian infrastructure escalate. On the night of September 20–21, Russia launched 54 drones; 33 were downed, the rest hit targets in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. In one week, Moscow fired over 1,500 drones, 1,280 glide bombs, and 50 missiles. Over 132,000 foreign-made components have been found in downed Russian weapons proof of widespread sanctions evasion.

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that Russian armed forces deliberately target civilians with short-range drones in settlements along the Dnipro River. 

The investigators said these systematic strikes constitute crimes against humanity of murder and war crimes of attacking civilians, with the clear purpose of spreading terror among the population.

This landmark finding validates reporting from 2024-2025 documenting Russia’s systematic transformation of civilian areas in southern Ukraine into hunting grounds where drones pursue individual victims with deadly precision.

Russian forces killed 133 civilians and injured 1,350 between July and October 2024 alone in what locals call “human safaris.”

Documentary evidence shows these attacks intensified throughout 2024, with Kherson residents reporting up to 100 drone attacks daily by spring 2025.

UN documents widespread and systematic attacks on civilians

In its latest findings, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine documented drone assaults across Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv oblasts, spanning more than 300 kilometres of front-line territory. 

Russian units operating from the opposing left bank of the Dnipro used drones with real-time tracking to pursue individuals, drop explosives directly on them, and attack civilian vehicles.

The Commission reported that ambulances, fire engines, and other emergency responders bearing visible markings were also struck, preventing life-saving work in the aftermath of attacks. 

The Commission also noted that civilian casualties from explosive weapons in Ukraine rose by 40 percent in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the previous year, with drone strikes representing a growing share. 

Older people in front-line communities are particularly vulnerable, as many are unable to escape.

Telegram channels linked to Russian forces have circulated videos of civilians being hunted and killed, which investigators said amounts to the war crime of outrages upon dignity.

Civilian areas rendered unliveable

Beyond individuals, Russian forces have directed drones at residences, infrastructure, and other civilian sites, leaving entire communities devastated. 

One Kherson resident told investigators: “Drones chase us, we hide from them. Drones sit on rooftops, and if they see something, there will be consequences.”

The systematic nature of the attacks has forced essential services to shut down and compelled thousands to flee. The Commission said this may amount to the crime against humanity of forcible transfer of population.

Broader pattern of deportation

The inquiry is also examining deportations and transfers of civilians from Russian-occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. 

Taken together, investigators said these practices reveal “coordinated and organized efforts” by Moscow to consolidate control over occupied territories while driving local populations out.

Accountability imperative

“The circumstances of the attacks show the perpetrators’ intention to kill, harm and destroy,” the inquiry concluded. 

Its chair, Erik Møse, stressed that avoiding impunity and holding perpetrators accountable is essential for sustainable peace. The full report is set to be presented to the UN General Assembly in October.

Russia operates approximately 17% of all active oil tankers worldwide through its “shadow fleet,” according to analysis published by The New York Times.

The 940 aging vessels allow Moscow to sidestep Western sanctions and keep war funding flowing.

The fleet has exploded in size—up 45% in just one year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data cited by the Times. These aren’t legitimate commercial operations. They’re Moscow’s workaround.

How Russia avoids shadow fleet restrictions

Here’s how it works: Ships use sketchy insurance or sail without coverage entirely. They fly flags from third countries. Most importantly, they transmit false location data to hide where they loaded Russian crude.

“The sanctions don’t put them out of business,” maritime security expert Ian Ralby told the Times. “They put them out of legitimate business.”

The fleet emerged after Europe banned Russian seaborne oil imports in late 2022 in response to its full-scale aggression in Ukraine.

Moscow suddenly needed India and China to buy its oil instead of European customers. Those longer shipping routes to Asia required more vessels. Russia also wanted to dodge the $60-per-barrel price cap imposed by the G7, European Union, and Australia. The EU and Britain have since dropped that ceiling even lower.

The deception creates what the Times calls “plausible deniability” for oil buyers who can claim they didn’t know the cargo’s true origin.

Explore further

Oil tanker from Russian shadow fleet towed to German port after floating adrift in Baltic Sea

Environmental and security threats of shadow fleet

However, this system poses significant environmental risks, according to experts quoted by the Times. The shadow fleet vessels average 20 years in age, compared to 13 years for the global oil tanker fleet broadly.

“Lack of insurance combined with the really old vessels — this just increases the risk of environmental catastrophe,” Natalia Gozak, office director of Greenpeace Ukraine.

Western intelligence also suspects some vessels of underwater sabotage against pipelines and cables.

Explore further

Russian shadow fleet’s Eagle S remains under arrest as damage claims mount

Western enforcement response

In response, Western nations have intensified enforcement efforts. The European Union has placed more than 500 shadow fleet ships on sanctions lists as of its latest announcement, while the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia are also targeting these vessels.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in August that the EU would adopt its 19th sanctions package against Russia in September. The package was expected on 17 September, but Brussels postponed its presentation.

However, the ships continue finding workarounds, including transferring cargo at sea and “flag hopping” by changing registrations to conceal identities.

Ben Harris, a former Biden administration Treasury official who helped architect the price cap, acknowledged the system’s imperfections while arguing that sanctions still impose costs on Russia through expensive shipping routes and fleet construction.

A drone attack struck the Foros sanatorium complex in occupied Crimea on 21 September evening, resulting in three civilian deaths and 16 injuries, according to Russian-appointed regional head Sergey Aksyonov.

During that period of time, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported intercepting 22 Ukrainian drones, including three over the annexed Crimea.

The strikes occurred at facilities where high-ranking officials may have been present, with the Telegram channel “Crimean Wind” citing sources claiming “very important guests were at the sanatorium” at the time of the attack, while other sources suggest the FSB maintains operations there and that senior officials frequent the location.

The strikes occurred around 7:30 p.m. Moscow time and hit multiple facilities in the resort area, according to Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

The ministry stated the attack involved “UAVs equipped with high-explosive warheads” and confirmed two civilian fatalities, though Aksyonov later raised the death toll to three.

The timing of the attack has drawn particular attention due to reports of high-profile visitors at the targeted facilities. According to the sanatorium’s Telegram channel, the restaurant at the Foros sanatorium was closed for “special service” on the day of the attack, Russian Telegram channel Astra reports.

Two drones also struck the Terletsky boarding school, while another hit the Luciano hotel located within the Foros sanatorium grounds. 

The attack involved an estimated six to eight drones flying over the village of Foros, with at least one confirmed shot down over the Black Sea, according to witness accounts. 

Ukrainian officials have not commented on the attack yet.

Ukrainian attack drones struck an S-400 Triumph air defense system in Russia’s Kaluga Region, destroying a missile launcher and its attendant radar unit, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported on 22 September.

The SSO wrote that they identified the missile system during a reconnaissance mission, got visual confirmation, and were cleared to fire on the target during the overnight operation on 5 September. 

Open-source intelligence from the monitoring community Oko Gora placed the target between 150 and 250 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, United 24 reported.

Special forces also reported destroying components of S-400 systems in occupied Crimea in late August and late June, taking down multiple radar components and one launcher. 

In January, the Ukrainian General Staff reported destroying S-400 radar equipment in Russia’s Belgorod oblast. Similar strikes picking Russia’s S-400s apart were also reported in the preceding years. 

The S-400 Triumph is Russia’s most advanced air defense missile system. It is reportedly able to track and destroy aircraft, missiles, and drones hundreds of kilometers away. A single battery, consisting of multiple launchers and their loading and targeting vehicles, is estimated to cost $1.2 billion. 

Military experts speaking to the Kyiv Independent in September 2023 said that while capable, S-400s are vulnerable to stand-off and stand-in jamming and may be confused by small, slow-moving targets like drones. To operate safely, the system needs to be layered with short- to medium-range air defenses.

Ukrainian special forces also criticized Russia’s organizational doctrine when deploying the systems.

Ukrainian drones targeted a critical railway infrastructure facility in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai Oblast, located over 1000 km away from Ukraine, during overnight operations on 22 September.

The attack focused on the “Kanevska” traction substation located in Staroderevyankovskaya village, with available information indicating five direct hits were recorded on the facility, according to multiple Russian Telegram channels.

The targeted infrastructure serves as a power supply hub for railway transport operations, specifically supporting electric locomotives that operate on alternating current systems. The facility receives high-voltage electricity at 220 kilovolts from the main electrical grid before converting it to appropriate voltage levels for railway operations.

The facility also maintains power supply to auxiliary railway systems including lighting, communications, signaling equipment, and switch heating mechanisms through 10-kilovolt distribution lines.

Moreover, another drone operation targeted Slavyansk-na-Kubani in Krasnodar Krai, where fragments from unmanned aerial vehicles impacted three private residential properties, according to the regional operational headquarters. The strikes allegedly damaged building facades and roofs while breaking windows, with debris also causing grass fires in a nearby industrial zone. No casualties were reported.

Overall, on the night of 22 September, Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have intercepted 114 drones over Russia and annexed Crimea.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Friday announcement of controlled weapons exports underscores a critical problem. Ukraine’s defense industry can supply its forces and desperate Western allies. However, bureaucratic barriers block access to €150 billion in potential partnerships.

“EU member states are actively discussing with Ukraine how to organize co-production and technology transfer,” warns Martin Jõesaar from the EU Defense Innovation Office in Kyiv.

The capacity-bureaucracy mismatch

Ukrainian defense companies face an absurd situation: they can build more weapons than their government can afford, but export rules won’t let them sell surplus to NATO allies scrambling for exactly these battle-tested systems.

Some manufacturers are already scouting relocation sites in Poland and Romania—precisely what Ukraine’s security policy should prevent.

Zelenskyy acknowledged the surplus on Friday: “Certain types of weapons—and this is modern weapons—we can produce in much larger volumes than we can finance ourselves, while certain types of weapons are already in significantly larger volumes than we actually need in Ukraine today.”

Six friction points blocking partnerships

The Council’s analysis identifies six friction points where security concerns clash with industry needs. The common thread: uncertainty.

Companies need permits to negotiate contracts, not only to sign them. Trade shows require months of approvals. Outdated dual-use lists don’t cover modern drone components. Paper-based licensing creates unpredictable delays that frustrate Western partners seeking reliable suppliers.

What Western partners actually want

European governments have now listed specific requirements before committing massive funds. These are:

• Transparent “single window” licensing system
• Risk-based controls with end-user verification
• EU-compatible regulations for program access
• Electronic processing instead of paper bureaucracy

Yet the institutional gaps still run deep. Ukraine is developing two initiatives that could help, but both need implementation.

Defense City, a proposed legal regime, would give defense companies tax exemptions and simplified exports in exchange for reinvesting all profits. The program “Build with Ukraine” involves producing Ukrainian weapons in partner countries like Denmark and Germany using Ukrainian technology.

As Oleksandra Azarkhina from the Economic Security Council notes, implementing these programs while updating the defense strategy remains essential for accessing European funding.

The strategic export dilemma

The Council identifies the core tension: Ukraine must balance the risk of critical assets leaving the country against isolating its defense industry. Companies can’t scale up without export revenue and generate more tax revenue for state purchases.

Defense manufacturers counter that over-restricting exports triggers industrial outflow. This weakens national security more than selective, monitored exports to proven NATO allies.

Time pressure builds

European defense spending will probably peak in 2025-2027. After that, political priorities may very well shift.

Last week’s Defense Tech Valley summit in Lviv attracted $100 million in investment from 50+ countries, showing international appetite. But investors need regulatory predictability.

The Council recommends unified legislation, electronic licensing, risk-based controls, and EU-standard procedures—changes essential for accessing European defense funding programs.

The €150-billion question

Zelenskyy’s export announcement suggests Ukraine recognizes the stakes. The President’s emphasis on working only with countries “who have really supported us, our independence” signals a more strategic partnership approach.

Yet, announcing export platforms is easier than implementing the systematic reforms Western partners demand. The Economic Security Council concludes Ukraine needs a codified, risk-tiered wartime regime. This would reconcile competing priorities.

The window for capturing Europe’s defense investment boom won’t stay open indefinitely. Whether Ukraine can streamline its bureaucracy before Western patience runs out remains the €150-billion question.

Ukrainian military intelligence operatives struck two Russian Be-12 “Chaika” amphibious aircraft during a 21 September operation in annexed Crimea, marking what officials describe as the first successful attack on this aircraft type in military history.

The strike was carried out by the “Phantoms” special unit of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), according to an official statement from the agency. The operation also resulted in the destruction of a Russian Mi-8 multi-purpose helicopter.

The Be-12 aircraft represent significant strategic assets due to their specialized anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

These amphibious planes “are equipped with expensive equipment for detecting and combating submarines,” according to HUR.

The aircraft’s dual capability to operate from both water and conventional airfields makes them particularly valuable for maritime patrol operations.

Soviet engineers designed the aircraft in the 1950s, earning it the “Chaika” (Seagull) nickname from its distinctive wing profile. Beyond hunting submarines, the planes handle patrol missions, search-and-rescue operations, and transport duties across Russia’s vast maritime borders.

Ukraine will apply to South Korea for a loan to purchase 20 Korean-made electric trains for state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia through a transparent competitive tender, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba announced during his working visit to Seoul.

“Cooperation with Korean partners paves the way for the creation of a modern and sustainable transportation system. It is important for us that the purchase of new electric trains takes place through a transparent and open competition among companies,” Kuleba said, according to Interfax.

The tender will be open to Korean manufacturers including Hyundai Rotem, Dawonsys, and Woojin. During his working trip, Kuleba met with passenger rolling stock manufacturers and briefed them on Ukraine’s railway development vision and rolling stock modernization needs, the ministry reports.

Korea has already established a framework for preferential financing of up to $2.1 billion for Ukraine covering 2024-2029, the Ministry of Development noted. In August 2023, Ukraine’s parliament ratified a framework agreement with South Korea on loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for this period, opening possibilities for Ukrzaliznytsia to acquire 20 Intercity+ class electric trains.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft letter to the Korean government requesting such a loan on 10 September, according to the ministry.

Ukrzaliznytsia announced plans in August to increase daytime high-speed traffic share to 30% within three years and 40% within five years, compared to the current 12-15% average. The purchase of 20 new electric trains, in addition to 10 Hyundai trains bought before Euro 2012, forms a key part of these expansion plans.

However, a Russian strike later put one of the existing 10 Hyundai trains out of service.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will hold meetings with more than two dozen world leaders from across the globe during the UN General Assembly in New York, according to his address on 21 September.

The meetings will include representatives from Ukraine’s partner countries, with the first sessions scheduled to begin on 22 September. Zelenskyy confirmed a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump later in the week.

“The first meetings are already tomorrow. We also plan to meet with the President of the United States this week. There will be a significant event regarding the return of Ukrainian children who were kidnapped by Russia – a truly global summit on this,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president emphasized the need for the United States to join sanctions against Russia that were announced and considered this week by the European Union, Great Britain, Japan, and Australia.

“Pressure on the Russian oil fleet, on Russian energy trade. Pressure on all Russian schemes to circumvent sanctions, including through cryptocurrency. Thank you Europe for this pressure. I am confident: there must be a move by the United States. Putin must believe that the United States does not care about everything and that strong steps will be taken,” Zelenskyy said.

During his planned meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy intends to discuss security guarantee issues. He aims to “receive signals about how close we are to understanding that security guarantees from all partners will be as we need them,” according to his statement.

The UN General Assembly week will also feature a summit on returning Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia and the fifth summit of the international Crimean Platform.

Zelenskyy and Trump reportedly will meet next week during the UN General Assembly in New York.

Russian forces unleashed 141 strike drones across Ukraine overnight, targeting regions from the northeastern border to the Black Sea coast on 22 September. At least three civilians died and six were injured.

The assault followed a familiar pattern. Russian officials claim they target only military infrastructure. The evidence tells a different story.

Every major strike hit civilian areas—apartment blocks, schools, hospitals and industrial sites.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast governor Ivan Fedorov put it bluntly: “Not a single facility was related to military infrastructure. This was deliberate terror against a peaceful city and its residents.”

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 132 of the 141 drones. About 80 were Iranian-designed Shaheds, the rest included “Gerbera” drones and other variants. Nine drones found their targets across seven locations. Debris from intercepted aircraft scattered across eight more areas.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast bore the worst of it

Three people died before dawn when Russian bombers struck the regional capital five times. The bombardment began at 4:30 a.m. and lasted nearly 40 minutes.

The strikes damaged 15 apartment buildings and 10 private houses, along with non-residential structures.

Fedorov reported that a 20-year-old man and 16-year-old boy were among the wounded, with the teenager experiencing acute stress reactions.

The attacks hit the Kosmichnyi neighborhood parking area, the Naberezhna highway near shopping centers, and residential areas in the Shevchenkivskyi district.

Kyiv Oblast caught fire in four districts

Debris and direct hits sparked blazes across central Ukraine’s region. One man, born in 1993, took shrapnel to his shoulder in Boryspil district. Doctors treated and released him.

Forest fires erupted in Vyshhorod district. A private house burned in Fastiv district. Debris smashed into an empty apartment building in Obukhiv district. Boryspil district saw another house fire, plus damaged cars and property, according to regional administrator Mykola Kalashnyk.

Sumy Oblast took three direct hits

The northeastern border city faced Shahed drones targeting two industrial sites and damaging a school and a kindergarten. Six apartment buildings took hits. About 30 cars were destroyed or damaged. Windows shattered in nearby apartment buildings. Balcony frames buckled from the blasts, demonstrating the proximity of civilian structures to targeted sites.

Acting mayor Artem Kobzar confirmed one injury – a security guard at an enterprise hit by the attack.

Kherson Oblast counted two more casualties

The southern region reported two injuries over a 24-hour period from ongoing Russian attacks. Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin documented damage to three apartment buildings, 19 private houses, utility structures, a garage, and vehicles, reflecting the continued impact on civilian infrastructure in the area.

Exclusives

Not just deported: Moscow turns Ukrainian children into soldiers, laborers, and Russians, studies show. From grenade drills to drone assembly, many kids are pressed into the Russian war machine, according to two recent studies.

Military

Frontline report: Ukrainian drones devastate Russian ammunition depots across Pokrovsk direction
Ukrainian forces have launched a systematic campaign targeting Russian ammunition depots from Donetsk city to the front lines at Pokrovsk, creating critical shortages that are allowing Ukrainian units to exploit weaknesses and seize tactical initiative across the direction.

PURL weapons program is showing success, expanding in October – Zelenskyy
Speaking in his evening address, President Zelenskyy highlighted new NATO-funded weapons deliveries and Ukraine’s progress on exporting naval drones to allied partners.

Russian forces trying to infiltrate Kupiansk disguised as civilians – military officials
Ukrainian officials say Russian forces are using small sabotage teams to evade detection.

ISW: Ukraine gains ground in Sumy and Donetsk. Russia pushes in Donetsk and Kharkiv. No axis breaks through
New geolocated footage shows fresh movements on multiple fronts, but without strategic impact.

A drone, a moving Russian tank-bulldozer, and one perfect hit: Nemesis shares footage of a rare IMR-3M kill (video)
Ukraine’s Nemesis drone operators struck a moving IMR-3M assault vehicle — one of the rarest of its kind in use.

Ukraine strikes three Russian helicopters and a radar in occupied Crimea — satellite confirms at least one Mi-8 destroyed (video)
The Nebo-U radar system was among the targets in Crimea, HUR reports.

Frontline report: In Sumy sector, Ukraine isolates Oleksiivka with a single road in, drone strikes out—and the Russians can’t get out alive
Kyiv’s encirclement strategy is strangling Russian forces one pocket at a time in the Sumy direction.

Intelligence and Technology

132,000 foreign-made parts found in Russian missiles and drones launched this week — Zelenskyy demands full tech blockade
Ukraine says the world’s electronics are helping fuel Russia’s daily strikes on civilians.

Ukraine can build 100,000 drone engines monthly—if officials stop favoring China
Realgold firm says it could scale up tenfold with zero extra investment—if the laws weren’t working against it.

Amid Russian spy allegations, Austrian energy firm fires executive
The fired executive reportedly met with a Russian diplomat suspected of being an FSB agent and had access to sensitive information on OMV and Adnoc.

International

Summit on returning abducted Ukrainian children to take place during UN General Assembly
Zelenskyy will meet with world leaders during a week of high-level diplomacy at the UN General Assembly, the president said during his evening address.

UN Security Council to discuss Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace on Monday
Estonia has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting after Russian MiG-31 jets entered its airspace on Friday, with Ukraine backing the call for a strong response.

Russian military plane spotted over Baltic Sea: NATO jets scrambled
Two German Eurofighters were scrambled over the Baltic Sea after a Russian reconnaissance plane flew without a flight plan or radio contact, according to the German Air Force.

Mushroom pickers found three crashed drones today in two Polish regions
Police reported drone-like wreckage found in three voivodeships, all in remote wooded areas.

Russian warplanes fly into NATO airspace — Czech President says maybe it’s time to shoot them down
Petr Pavel warns that allowing intrusions like the recent MiG-31 fighter jet flyovers only invites more.

Humanitarian and Social Impact

Russian shelling kills civilian in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast
Local officials said the victim died in their home after sustaining fatal injuries during Russian artillery fire on the city.

Second Russian double-tap strike in Ukraine’s Chernihiv Oblast leaves firefighters hospitalized mid-rescue
Russian drones returned to hit the exact site first responders had just arrived to contain.

Read our previous daily review here.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a “truly global summit” on the issue of returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia during a week of high-level diplomacy around the United Nations General Assembly.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken from their families and relocated to Russia or Russian-occupied territories. Kyiv and international partners have repeatedly called for their return as both a humanitarian and legal priority under international law.

Speaking in his evening address, Zelenskyy said he will meet with US President Donald Trump and other world leaders during a “very intense week” of diplomacy at the UN General Assembly.

The schedule reportedly includes nearly two dozen meetings with leaders from countries that have supported Ukraine, as well as new partners. The first are set for Monday.

The diplomatic push comes as Ukraine seeks to build international support amid ongoing Russian aggression. Zelenskyy is using the UN General Assembly to push for coordinated sanctions, maintain international backing, and highlight the issue of returning Ukrainian children taken by Russia.

Zelenskyy emphasized the need for strong international action to end the war. He highlighted recent sanctions pressure on Russia, including measures by the European Union, the United States, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

The president said the diplomatic week aims to strengthen global resolve, coordinate concrete steps against Russian aggression, and secure ongoing support for Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction.

Today there is important news from the Pokrovsk direction.

Here Ukrainians are targeting all the major and minor ammunition depots from Donetsk city all the way to the front line at Pokrovsk.

With shortages of ammunition for Russian soldiers fighting on the contact line, Ukrainian units are able to expertly exploit these weaknesses and take the initiative.

Ukrainian strikes have crippled Russian supplies of weapons in the Pokrovsk direction with multiple confirmed hits against key ammunition depots throughout the region.

Strikes on Donetsk

In Donetsk, a series of massive explosions rocked the city after Ukrainian long-range drones penetrated Russian defenses. Air defense systems were active beforehand, with smoke trails visible in the sky, but they failed to intercept the incoming strikes.

Footage from Russian soldiers captured the true scale of the destruction, with thick black smoke rising above a facility, followed by a colossal explosion that sent shockwaves through the area, knocking down the soldier who was filming.

Secondary blasts continued for hours, clear evidence of hundreds of tons of ammunition igniting and cooking off.

In at least two different parts of Donetsk, separate plumes of smoke confirmed that multiple storage sites had been struck, leaving no doubt that Ukrainian intelligence and precision targeting had hit their mark.

Salidov under attack

Salidov was not spared either, and another geolocated video, taken by Russian personnel, showed a local base and warehouse engulfed in flames, with ammunition exploding uncontrollably.

In the background, a shaken soldier muttered that hell has broken loose, summing up the chaos that unfolded as the depot erupted.

Salidov has long been used as a central logistics hub due to its size and relative concealment opportunities for Russian soldiers in the Pokrovsk direction. Now it has become a death trap for Russian stockpiles due to its proximity to the front line of around 20 km.

Ukrainian forces struck precisely, underscoring that there are no secure places in the Pokrovsk rear, despite the Russian command believing they had relative safety due to the available buildings.

Impact on Russian logistics

The Donetsk-Yasinovato-Khorlivka rail triangle, combined with the Avdiivka-Oharetina road corridor, has always been the lifeline for Russia’s offensive toward Pokrovsk.

By hitting depots within this network, Ukrainian units force Russia to disperse munitions into smaller caches and rely on last-minute convoys that are far easier to intercept.

With Salidov now burning, Russia has no safe ammunition hub south of Pokrovsk, meaning supplies must take longer, more fuel-intensive roads, often through poor road conditions, and exposed to drones and artillery.

Every strike on Yasinovato or Donetsk is immediately felt on the front lines of the Donetsk-Khorlivka rail triangle. Due to immediate rationing of shells, weaker counter-battery fire, along with slower and less coordinated assaults.

Battlefield consequences

Ukrainian drones, which are constantly scanning the area, direct fire on convoys, repair depots, and ammunition caches, ensuring that Russia’s logistic flow remains fragile as supplies are rerouted.

This vulnerability directly translates into opportunities for the Ukrainians on the battlefield. When Russian units cannot sustain sufficient fire support, Ukrainian troops gain windows to rotate, reinforce, or counter-attack with less risk.

Analysts estimate that the recent strikes in Donetsk alone destroyed several hundred tons of shells, a loss that cannot be quickly replenished, given Russia’s already stretched industrial base and vulnerable supply chain.

Historical context and pattern

These disruptions mirror earlier Ukrainian successes on Pokrovsk’s southern flank during the spring and summer, where Russian forces were starved of not only ammunition, but even food and water. water, causing a collapse after weeks of futile assaults.

Now on the northeastern flank near Dobropillia, Russian units find themselves in the same position, and every passing day without resupply weakens their foothold and makes them easier prey for Ukrainian counterattacks.

Strategic assessment

Overall, the recent strikes on Donetsk and Selidov are not isolated incidents, but part of a sustained Ukrainian campaign. 

The Ukrainian tactic is simple but brutally effective – destroy the depots, force dispersal, harass convoys and let the front lines dry out. 

Even when Russian forces managed to achieve a breakthrough towards Dobropillia, these gains collapsed within days because their logistics network could not sustain them. 

Ukrainian defenders, reinforced and well-supplied, pushed back, cleared villages and reclaimed swathes of territory, while Russian soldiers were left undersupplied, demoralized, and vulnerable. 

With every ammunition depot destroyed, the balance shifts further in favor of the Ukrainians and allows them to strike back.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

The new NATO-backed Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program is already delivering results, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address. 

The program allows Ukraine to acquire American weapons and equipment, with costs collectively covered by NATO allies. This approach speeds up deliveries and shares the financial burden among partner countries.

PURL currently covers missiles for Patriot and HIMARS systems, as well as other advanced arms. Zelenskyy said the program will be further expanded in October.

Media reported on Thursday that the first shipment of weapons acquired through PURL had already arrived in Ukraine.

Ukrainian arms exports: first steps

Zelenskyy also outlined initial proposals for controlled exports of Ukrainian weapons, including naval drones. The goal is to provide allies with technology Ukraine has successfully used to defend its own waters.

He said the exports would help strengthen maritime security in the Black Sea and create opportunities for long-term defense contracts.

Ukrainian military officials say Russian forces are attempting to infiltrate Kupiansk while disguised as civilians.

Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast has become one of the war’s most contested frontline cities in recent months.

Small sabotage and reconnaissance teams, usually two to five soldiers, move through the city trying to avoid detection, according to Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for the operational-strategic formation “Dnipro,” RFE/RL reports.

“They attempt to use their numbers to slip through Ukrainian positions and later occupy buildings,” Trehubov said.

Ukrainian forces reportedly destroy Russian units before they can reach residential areas, to prevent them from establishing a foothold in the city.

Trehubov added that Russian troops continue to strike Kupiansk with artillery, drones, and other weapons.

Kupiansk has seen repeated attacks in recent months. Russian forces regularly target the city’s infrastructure and military positions. Ukrainian authorities say civilians remain under constant threat from shelling and infiltration attempts.

Russian forces have been conducting a year-long assault to capture the city, which serves as a critical logistics center and potential launching point for further attacks toward Kharkiv. 

The city now lies 90% destroyed with fewer than 1,700 civilians remaining from its original population, as Russian forces strike it daily with glide bombs, artillery, and drones.

The ISW warns that Russian advances near Kupiansk may soon threaten the city’s main supply route, as Moscow pursues a strategy of gradual encirclement rather than frontal assault.

The UN Security Council will meet on 22 September in response to a Russian airspace violation over Estonia, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

Tallinn said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace on 19 September and remained there for around 12 minutes. NATO said Italian F-35 jets scrambled to respond to the incursion.

It is the first time Estonia has requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council since joining the UN 34 years ago.

“By openly violating Estonian airspace, Russia undermines principles vital to the security of all UN member states,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on X. “When such actions are committed by a permanent member of the Security Council, they must be addressed by that very body.”

Tsahkna called the incursion “a breach of the UN Charter” and “part of a broader pattern of escalation,” noting that 19 Russian drones recently entered Polish airspace while another remained in Romanian airspace for an hour.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine has requested a platform to speak at the meeting. 

“We support friendly Estonia in calling for a strong and united response to Russia’s continued destabilization of international peace and security,” Sybiha added.

Estonia has also requested consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the North Atlantic Council will meet early next week to discuss the incident.

NATO scrambled two German Eurofighter jets on 21 September in response to a Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea, German news agency DPA reported, citing the German Air Force.

The encounter comes amid a pattern of increased Russian military activity near NATO’s eastern borders.

The plane, which had no flight plan or radio contact, was in international airspace and appeared to be an Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft.

Additional aircraft are on standby to protect NATO’s eastern flank amid recent airspace violations by Russia.

On 19 September, Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace for around 12 minutes and two other Russian aircraft flew over Poland’s Petrobaltic oil platform in the Baltic Sea.

Earlier this month, Russian drones also entered Polish and Romanian airspace.

Two drones in Masovian voivodeship

Masovian voivodeship police reported two separate discoveries of suspected drone wreckage in different counties on 21 September.

In Białobrzegi County, a man spotted remnants of “an object resembling a drone” in a forest near the village of Biała Góra shortly after 9:00. The nearest housing was approximately 6 kilometers away. The police secured the site and the debris, and notified the Military Gendarmerie and the Prosecutor’s Office in Grójec.

Later the same morning, in Siedlce County, another suspected drone crash site was found. According to Masovian voivodeship police, mushroom pickers came across “parts of an object resembling a drone.” in a wooded area near the village of Wodynie, roughly 1 kilometer from the nearest homes. Law enforcement again secured the site and informed both the Military Gendarmerie and the Prosecutor’s Office in Siedlce.

Third object found in Lublin voivodeship

Also on 21 September, police in Lublin voivodeship confirmed that mushroom pickers discovered another “object resembling a drone lying on the ground.” This object was found at about 10:00 in a forest near the village of Sulmice, Zamość County, within Skierbieszów municipality. The debris was located about 1.5 kilometers from the nearest buildings. Local police reported that the area and the remains were secured and that other agencies were informed, including the Military Gendarmerie and the Prosecutor’s Office in Zamość.

Explore further

Russian warplanes fly into NATO airspace — Czech President says maybe it’s time to shoot them down

Connection to earlier Russian drone incursion not reported

It remains unclear whether the wreckage found on 21 September is related to the Russian drone incursion into Poland on 10 September or if the objects entered Polish territory during separate, undetected events.

Since then, suspected drone wreckage has been found repeatedly. On 17 and 20 September, Polish authorities reported additional discoveries. On 19 September, missile debris was recovered that may have originated from efforts to shoot down Russian drones. 

Austrian energy group OMV has fired an executive over alleged ties to Russian intelligence after meetings with a Russian diplomat suspected of being an FSB agent, Reuters reported, citing news magazine Profil.

Austria’s energy sector, given the country’s historical ties to Russian gas and Vienna’s role as a diplomatic hub, has become a particularly attractive target for Russian intelligence seeking influence over European energy markets.

The executive, temporarily seconded to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), reportedly had access to sensitive information on both OMV and Adnoc, which are planning a $60 billion merger of their polyolefin businesses.

OMV confirmed the termination and said it is cooperating with authorities.

Austria’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian diplomat to Vienna, requesting a waiver of diplomatic immunity amid pending criminal proceedings. Authorities said the diplomat would otherwise be considered persona non grata.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European law enforcement agencies have reported a significant escalation in Russian spy activities. These include recruitment of local citizens as “proxies” and the targeting of companies with access to sensitive infrastructure data. 

Recent arrests across the UK, Germany, and other EU nations have revealed coordinated networks. These networks use diplomatic cover, social media recruitment, and corporate infiltration to gather intelligence and conduct sabotage operations. 

Russian forces shelled the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on 21 September, killing one civilian, according to Serhii Horbunov, Head of the Kostiantynivka City Military Administration. He said the victim died in their own home after sustaining fatal injuries during artillery fire.

Kostiantynivka is a frontline city in Donetsk region, around 20 kilometers west of occupied Bakhmut and close to ongoing heavy fighting. It remains under Ukrainian control but is regularly targeted by Russian artillery and airstrikes.

Authorities reported that a second person was wounded when an FPV drone struck a car, damaging the vehicle. Two more residents were injured during shelling and sought medical care at a hospital in the nearby city of Druzhkivka.

Earlier strikes with Smerch multiple launch rocket systems damaged the facades of several apartment buildings, a shop and a shopping center, while an airstrike with a guided FAB-250 bomb hit another residential building. No casualties were reported from those attacks.

Police from the nearby Kramatorsk district are documenting the damage and investigating the shelling as a war crime.

Geolocated footage and Russian source acknowledgments indicate recent territorial advances by both Ukrainian and Russian forces across multiple axes. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported several localized movements in its 20 September assessment.

Ukrainian forces advance in Sumy and near Pokrovsk

ISW reported that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy Oblast. Geolocated footage published on 20 September shows movement northeast of Kindrativka, north of Sumy City.

In Donetsk Oblast, ISW assessed that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction. Russian milbloggers acknowledged on 19 and 20 September that Ukrainian troops reached the northern outskirts of Novotoretske and moved west of Boikivka, both northeast of Pokrovsk. ISW noted that such admissions likely indicate confirmed Ukrainian gains.

Russian forces make advances in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts

ISW stated that Russian forces recently advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Geolocated footage published on 20 September shows Russian troops at the Vovchansk Oil Extraction Plant in western Vovchansk, northeast of Kharkiv City.

Additional Russian advances were recorded in Donetsk Oblast. In the Lyman direction, geolocated footage published on 20 September shows Russian movement within eastern Shandryholove, northwest of Lyman. Further footage from 19 September indicates Russian forces advanced in western Novoekonomichne, northeast of Pokrovsk.

ISW also assessed Russian gains in the Velykomykhailivka direction. Geolocated footage published on 20 September shows Russian servicemembers raising flags in multiple locations in Berezove, south of Velykomykhailivka. ISW stated this likely indicates the seizure of Berezove, Dniptopetrovsk Oblast next to DOnetsk Oblast. The Russian Ministry of Defense credited elements of the 36th Motorized Rifle Brigade (29th Combined Arms Army, Eastern Military District) with the operation.

A Ukrainian drone unit released video footage of the destruction of a heavily armored Russian engineering vehicle, marking only the third confirmed loss of this type since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The report does not mention the exact date or location of the attack.

Ukrainian drones strike rare Russian IMR-3M path-clearing vehicle

On 21 September, Ukrainian military drone unit Nemesis, part of the 412th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces, shared a video clip showing the destruction of a Russian IMR-3M military engineering vehicle. Footage shows that the drone pilot hit the IMR-3M while it was in motion, dropping a munition directly onto the moving vehicle. Later, two more munition drops finished off the immobilized and burning vehicle.

According to Militarnyi, such vehicles are in high demand at the front due to their ability to support assault operations by preparing the path for other units. However, confirmed battlefield losses of IMR-3Ms remain extremely limited.

Since 2022, it is only the third such vehicle that has been visually confirmed as destroyed. The previous confirmed kill occurred over a year ago.

In contrast, Russia’s earlier IMR-2M model has suffered far greater losses — at least 49 destroyed or damaged since the full-scale invasion began, according to Oryx Blog equipment losses tracker.

A nuclear-shielded “terminator” turned wreckage

Russian sources often refer to the IMR-3M as a “terminator on tracks.” Built on the chassis of a T-72 tank, it was adopted by Russian army engineering units in 1999. It’s heavily armored and features radiation shielding, allowing it to operate in high-risk zones, including those affected by nuclear strikes.

Its equipment includes a universal bulldozer blade for clearing, grading, and obstacle removal; a telescopic boom mounted on a full-rotation turret that can be outfitted with a bucket, gripper, or other engineering tools; and a mine-clearing system equipped with a blade and electromagnetic mine trawl, capable of neutralizing both contact and magnetic mines, including anti-track and underbelly varieties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that over 132,000 foreign-made components were discovered in Russian drones and missiles launched at Ukraine over the past week. He urged partners to shut down all supply routes and sanction loopholes allowing these parts to reach Moscow.

132,000 imported parts found in Russian weapons used this week

In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is defending itself from Russian air attacks almost daily. According to him, in the past week alone, Russian forces launched more than 1,500 attack drones, over 1,280 guided aviation bombs, and 50 missiles of various types.

“These technologies help Russia produce weapons on a massive scale,” Zelenskyy said, adding that it’s all used for “terror against our people.”

Zelenskyy calls for tough sanctions and global pressure

He warned that if Russia is not stopped, this threat will soon extend beyond Ukraine — to Europe and the Pacific region.

He called strong sanctions the key tool to stop the flow of foreign technologies into Russian arms production. That includes blocking all supply routes, cracking down on sanction circumvention, and applying pressure on countries and individual companies that enable the flow of parts.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine counts on the European Union’s 19th sanctions package to be truly painful and wants the United States to join those measures.

“Thank you to everyone already helping,” he added.

Ukrainian military intelligence has released video footage confirming the destruction of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter during a drone operation in occupied Crimea. The attack also targeted two other helicopters and a Nebo-U air defense radar system, according to a 21 September report.

Ukrainian drones strike helicopters and radar in occupied Crimea

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) stated that its special unit Prymary targeted three Russian Mi-8 helicopters and a Nebo-U radar in an undated drone attack on the occupied peninsula. The agency published a video showing the strikes, and the wreckage of “one of the destroyed” Mi-8 helicopters.

“The Mi-8 helicopters and the Nebo-U radar in Crimea are the latest results of the Prymary unit’s raid,” the HUR noted.

It added that the air fleet of Russian occupiers in occupied Crimea “once again shrank” following the “successful combat work” of the unit.

Radar with 400 km detection range

As noted by Militarnyi, the Nebo-U radar is capable of detecting fighter-type targets flying at altitudes up to 20 kilometers and at distances of up to 400 kilometers. Although it does not belong to individual missile systems, it plays a key role in Russia’s layered air defense network by transmitting target data to defense command posts.

Crimea airfields repeatedly hit in coordinated drone campaigns

Drone operators from both the HUR and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have successfully penetrated Russian air defenses multiple times. In July and early August, the agencies struck the Saky airfield twice, damaging up to six Russian fighter jets.

Additional attacks by the Prymary unit included strikes on Mi-8 helicopters at the Hvardiiske airbase. At Kirovske airfield, transport helicopters Mi-8 and Mi-26 as well as the Mi-28 attack helicopter were damaged, with satellite imagery later confirming these impacts.

Other recent targets included Russian command posts, barracks, depots, railway facilities, and satellite communication centers. At the end of August and early September, at least three missile strikes hit key Russian military and logistical nodes: a Black Sea Fleet communication hub, artillery warehouses of the Russian Dnipro grouping, and FSB hovercraft and barracks.

At the beginning of September, jet-powered drones struck a space communication center. Separately, loitering drones repeatedly targeted electric substations that power Russian rail logistics in Crimea.

Today, there is important news from the Sumy direction in the northeastern Ukraine.

Here, the Ukrainian tactic of cutting off and starving out Russian positions before eliminating them is paying off with the continued capture of village after village. Now, the last Russian stronghold in this sector is about to fall, with hundreds of enemy soldiers being left to either die or surrender.

Ukrainian forces push north as Russian strongholds crumble

Ukrainian forces in Sumy successfully exploit methodical maneuver warfare, pressing forward settlement by settlement to turn Russian positions into manageable targets. Rather than trading lives in costly frontal fights, Ukrainian commanders isolate enemy detachments, sever their supply lines, and then tighten the noose until those positions become untenable. Relentless air and drone strikes have exposed Russian units, leaving many undersupplied and unrotated for several weeks.

By bypassing strongpoints and collapsing salients piece by piece, Ukraine has been able to push north of Kindrativka and even probe back into Kursk while turning both sides of the border into a flexible battlefield.

Oleksiivka nearly encircled, supply road under fire

Another push north from Andriivka led to Oleksiivka being cut off on three sides and the Russians there facing an increasingly dangerous situation.

The encirclement is the result of coordinated Ukrainian maneuver, constant fire control, and persistent pressure, with Ukrainian units now executing flanking attacks to close lateral routes. At the same time, Ukrainian drone units pummel Russian concentrations and roads in the area with hundreds of strikes. This denies the Russians any possibility of moving freely and degrades all reinforcement efforts. With only a single usable road into Oleksiivka, bringing supplies, evacuating casualties, or rotating troops has become effectively impossible, as anyone attempting the approach is detected and struck long before it reaches the outer edge of the settlement.

Russian reinforcements rushed in—and destroyed

Russian soldiers on the ground now openly warn that Oleksiivka is heading for the same fate as Kindrativka unless the Russian command abandons the position rather than bury more troops there, as they report that the semi-encirclement is rapidly turning into a slaughter.

Instead, Russian officers have reacted with frantic redeployments in a bid to break the encirclement, as the exhausted 382nd Separate Infantry Battalion of the 810th Russian Naval Brigade was pushed into action at Kindrativka. Supposed to mount a counterattack and relieve the pocket at Oleksiivka, under normal strength, this formation would field roughly a thousand soldiers, but under current conditions, it only musters close to five hundred. Notably, a large number of these are reportedly newly mobilized, poorly trained, and badly equipped soldiers, thrown in just to bring the battalion up to a higher combat readiness on paper. Russian sources confirm all combat-effective reserves have been redeployed to Pokrovsk, leaving only second-tier and understrength units for the task of preventing a full-on collapse.

One Russian officer even reported they receive only older people, marginals, and simply not combat-ready recruits in poor physical condition. He added that to prevent desertion or the shooting of officers, they are constantly watched by military police and are only issued weapons right before combat missions, with ammunition limited to two magazines each.

The attempted rushed countermeasure to attack Kindrativka to relieve pressure at Oleksiivka was predictable and fated to fail. Replacements arrived under fire, becoming immediate targets for Ukrainian drone and artillery assets, with exhausted Russian units unable to form coherent assault echelons. Rather than rescuing the encircled formations, these hurried moves only dramatically increased Russian casualty counts.

The attempt to plug gaps with understrength battalions highlights an operational dilemma, with Russia’s concept of trading bodies for ground running straight into Ukraine’s deliberate tactics of isolation, starvation, and attrition.

Encirclement strategy is reshaping the Sumy front

Overall, with the Ukrainians maintaining pressure by holding fire control over the approaches, continuing daily drone strikes, and refusing to be lured into costly frontal battles, Oleksiivka’s fate will mirror earlier Russian collapses in the area. Ukraine’s advantage is decisive, with its troops being on the offensive and able to choose when and where to fight.

The fall of Oleksiivka would fracture the western part of Russia’s Sumy incursion, damage morale, and the remaining soldiers would either be captured or neutralized. This will jeopardize the nearby eastern salient and lead to repetition of the events with the same catastrophic outcome for Russia.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

New findings shed light on how Russia systematically indoctrinates and militarizes thousands of Ukrainian children taken by force since the start of the full-scale invasion. Researchers have mapped 210 Russian and Russian-occupied facilities used to house, reeducate, and in some cases militarize the abducted Ukrainian minors.

Russia operates 210 child facilities across 59 regions

France24 reports that a new report by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, published on 16 September, identifies 210 sites in Russia or Russian-occupied territories used to detain Ukrainian children and teenagers forcibly removed from Ukraine. These include hotels in Krasnodar, monasteries in Rostov Oblast, military schools in occupied Donetsk Oblast, and facilities near Volgograd. In total, the network stretches over 5,630 kilometers — from Crimea’s Black Sea coast to Russia’s Pacific shore.

Map: Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) at Yale School of Public Health.

The program spans 59 administrative regions and occupied areas. According to the researchers, 23% of the identified facilities were either built or expanded after 2021, seemingly to accommodate the surge in forcibly relocated children. For example, two cadet training centers in the occupied Donbas were constructed and enlarged since that year.

While many of these sites existed prior to the full-scale invasion and serve other purposes, a significant portion has been repurposed or developed for this mass-scale operation. Some establishments act as transit points, like orphanages for children awaiting adoption. Others, such as military schools, serve as long-term indoctrination institutions.

Indoctrination and militarization of abducted children

More than 130 of the facilities identified by the Yale team impose “patriotic” education programs rooted in Russian propaganda. Children are made to sing the Russian national anthem, recite Russian poetry, and wear Russian clothes — all in Russian. In many cases, they are stripped of their Ukrainian identity, names, passports, and language.

This form of indoctrination was further detailed in a separate report released days earlier by the British NGO War Child UK. The group interviewed 200 Ukrainian children who had returned from Russia since 2022.

Explore further

“Stayed indoors for nearly three years”: Ukraine brings kids home from jaws of occupation — yet 19,546 remain abducted by Russia

Helen Pattinson, CEO of War Child UK, said their testimonies reveal “a clear pattern of indoctrination.” She explained that the children are torn from their homes, stripped of their passports, and forbidden from speaking their native language. They are assigned new names and identification papers, made to sing the Russian national anthem, recite Russian poetry, and wear Russian clothing.

“They may even be adopted into a Russian family,” said Pattinson.

The report warns that this approach could create an entire generation of Ukrainian children devoid of their national identity. Nearly half of those interviewed by War Child UK exhibited signs of post-traumatic stress.

In 39 of the sites documented by Yale, children receive combat-related training. These include weapons handling, grenade throwing, trench digging, demining, and even parachute training.

“They’ve been asked or forced to join paramilitary groups, shown how to throw a grenade, dig a trench, hold a gun or handle firearms, clear mines, and essentially trained to fight against their own country,” Pattinson added.

Others were involved in the production of military equipment, including drones and munitions, for Russian forces.

Russia denies deportations, promotes adoptions

The scale and organization of this operation have drawn international condemnation. Ukrainian NGO Bring Kids Back estimates that at least 19,000 children have been taken by Russia since 2014. The International Criminal Court has charged Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, with war crimes for the illegal deportation of civilians.

Explore further

210 Russian facilities identified in systematic “re-education” of Ukrainian children, Yale study reveals

Moscow disputes these accusations. It denies any deportation program, claiming instead to have “evacuated” children from combat zones.

Demographic conquest under imperial logic

Andreas Umland, a Russia-Ukraine expert at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, calls this a strategy of “demographic conquest.” He argues that Moscow aims not only to occupy Ukrainian territory, but to assimilate its population — starting with its most vulnerable.

Russia abducts Ukrainian children to “counteract the problem of demographic decline that Russia already had before the large-scale war, which is only partly solved by immigration from Central Asia and the Caucasus,” Umland explained.

The logic driving this strategy echoes Soviet-era practices, where the children are“seen as units to be made to function in a totalitarian society [. . .] and the fate of the individual child was unimportant”,” Umland said. “The higher goal used to be communism, now it’s the Russian Empire. It’s therefore the same utilitarian approach toward children.”

Overnight on 21 September, Russia hit Ukrainian rescue workers with the week’s second double-tap drone strike in Chernihiv Oblast. The second strike injured two firefighters after responding to a fire caused by the first drone attack, local authorities reported.

Russia hits firefighters during second double-tap strike in Chernihiv Oblast

The State Emergency Service reported that Russian forces targeted firefighters in Nizhyn district, Chernihiv Oblast, while they were extinguishing flames at a critical infrastructure site. The fire had broken out during an initial overnight drone strike. As emergency crews arrived to contain it, Russian drones returned and launched a second strike, injuring two responders. They were hospitalized in moderate condition.

Viacheslav Chaus, head of Chernihiv Oblast, confirmed this was the second such incident in the oblast this week. He said Russia deliberately waits for first responders to arrive at the scene before launching follow-up attacks.

“Russia resorts to openly terrorist practices: it strikes, then strikes again once rescuers arrive to deal with the consequences,” Chaus said.

On 20 September, Russia launched another drone attack on Chernihiv city, injuring a 21-year-old local resident. The man was hospitalized in the neurology department. Infrastructure was also damaged during the strike.

Russia’s daily air assaults

This pattern of targeting emergency services is not new, adn Russia repeats it in its daily assaults. On 17 September — Ukraine’s official Rescuer Day — a Russian drone hit a fire station in Donetsk Oblast. The explosion blew out the garage gates and damaged the building’s façade.

On 18 September, Russian forces struck a State Emergency Service unit in Nizhyn, killing one rescuer and injuring two more. The following day, 19 September, Russia launched a repeated strike in Chernihiv Oblast targeting police and medics. Their service vehicles were damaged.

Realgold, a Ukrainian manufacturer, has unveiled domestically produced electric motors for FPV drones. The company showcased its products at Defense Tech Valley 2025 and detailed both its scaling capabilities and the legal obstacles hampering its competitiveness.

Realgold presents homegrown FPV motors, including for interceptors

Ukrainian defense tech outlet Militarnyi reports that at the Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition, Realgold introduced several new models of electric motors for FPV drones, all manufactured in Ukraine. According to the company’s representative, the first production batch was completed in January 2025. Since then, monthly output has reached 10,000 units.

Realgold also stated that it is capable of scaling up to 100,000 motors per month “without significant investment,” provided there is adequate demand. However, the company is struggling to compete with Chinese manufacturers due to existing legal frameworks in Ukraine.

Tax system favors foreign suppliers, company warns

The Realgold representative told Militarnyi that foreign drone components imported for military use are exempt from VAT and customs duties. Ukrainian producers, on the other hand, must pay both, which increases the final cost of their products.

Still only partially localized

Realgold is gradually increasing the share of Ukrainian-made components in its products. At present, the company imports finished parts from China and conducts coil winding in Ukraine. However, it has already purchased the equipment needed to begin producing the components itself. This step is expected to begin by the end of 2025.

In an interview with Czech television, Czechia’s President Petr Pavel said NATO must be ready to respond militarily to Russia’s repeated violations of allied airspace — including shooting down intruding aircraft.

Moscow’s provocations come amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, during which it has also carried out espionage, sabotage, and direct military provocations across multiple NATO countries. The only instance when Russia ceased such airspace violations occurred in 2015, after Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber that had entered Turkish airspace.

Czech President says Russian aircraft violating NATO airspace should be shot down

President Pavel stated that Russia’s actions were a serious escalation that could no longer be tolerated.

“According to President Petr Pavel, Russia’s violation of NATO states’ airspace significantly increases tensions in Europe,” wrote Novinky.cz. Pavel said the West must respond adequately — “including a possible downing of Russian aircraft.”

Speaking to Czech TV, he emphasized, “This includes a military reaction. Russia will very quickly realize it made a mistake and crossed acceptable boundaries.”

He warned that it is a delicate situation, but “yielding to evil is simply not possible.”

NATO must stop appeasing Russian provocations, Pavel warns

Pavel underscored that violating NATO airspace activates legitimate defensive mechanisms.

“Violating airspace is a reason to activate defense mechanisms and thus shoot down such an aircraft,” he said. He added, “Russia will behave as far as we allow it.”

Radio Prague International noted that the Czech President said this behavior is not new, recalling past provocations.

“I always used to ask them why they do it, knowing it could provoke conflict. Every time they answered: ‘Because we can’,” Pavel said. 

Estonia invokes NATO Article 4 after MiG-31 incursion

The 12-minute intrusion by the three MiG-31s over Estonia on 19 September triggered immediate concern. NATO patrol aircraft intercepted and escorted the Russian jets. Following the incident, Estonia requested consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Article 4 allows any NATO member to call consultations if they feel their territorial integrity, political independence, or security is under threat. It does not mandate a military response like Article 5, but initiates collective political deliberation.

Poland reported that Russian jets entered the “security zone” of its offshore platform in the Baltic on the same day, but clarified that no violation of its national border occurred.

The Czech President warned that Russia is probing NATO for weakness.

“What happened in recent days in Poland, Estonia — and what has been happening for four years in Ukraine — affects us all,” he said. “If we do not maintain unity, this will eventually happen to us.”

As always, Russia denies any airspace violations

The Russian Ministry of Defense denied that any border violations occurred. However, the Czech Foreign Ministry labeled the Estonian incident a provocation and escalation.

“Our message to Russia is clear: respect where your borders end, get out of Ukraine, and do not test our patience,” said the Czech MFA, according to Novinky.cz.

President Pavel reiterated that Moscow’s aim is not just to provoke, but to manipulate any NATO response.

“Russia is not only waging an aggressive war against a sovereign country,” he said, “it also seeks to provoke NATO states to test our resolve and use our reactions for its own purposes.”

Exclusives

Italy sends Ukraine an APC “on steroids” to evacuate soldiers under drone fire. The VCC-1’s extra steel stops what aluminum cannot.

Ukraine builds fire sac kill zones—Russian bikers keep riding to their death anyway. Ukraine studied ‘The Russian Way of War.’ Russia apparently didn’t.

Ukraine could make the EU’s drone wall actually work—if politics allows. Europe’s weapons cost millions; Ukraine’s solutions cost hundreds.

As Russia clamps down, Ukraine sells assets in wartime reform gamble. Record $216 million in transparent auctions sends crucial signal to Western allies.

Military

Ukraine creates new assault troops branch as separate military force, Zelenskyy announces. The decision to legally establish assault troops as a distinct military branch came after Russian forces began copying Ukraine’s assault unit system, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters.

Ukraine scales up drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, Zelenskyy says. Russian fuel shortages and gas station queues signal the growing impact of Ukraine’s expanded drone campaign, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters

Ukraine hits Russian refineries with 15.8 million-ton annual capacity in Saratov, Samara strikes. Ukraine’s military confirmed “strategic” strikes on Russian refineries processing 2.54% of Russia’s total refining capacity and 8.8 million tons annually at a second facility.

NATO avoids Turkiye’s 2015 response after Russian jets violate skies over Poland’s only Baltic Sea oil platform. From Petrobaltic to Estonian airspace, Moscow executes small moves with outsized risk.

Estonia maps Russian MiG-31 route after Moscow claims neutral waters flight. Three Russian MiG-31 interceptors spent 12 minutes inside Estonian airspace with their transponders switched off, prompting Tallinn to release flight path evidence after the Kremlin denied any border violation occurred.

Intelligence and technology

Lviv hosts world’s biggest defense tech summit, and funnels $100 million into Ukraine’s tight military budget

. Defense innovators from 50+ countries converge on Ukraine, turning the battlefield into a hub for global investment.

British M16 launches “Silent Courier” darknet platform to recruit Russian spies. The initiative coincides with MI6 Chief Richard Moore’s assessment that Putin shows “no interest in negotiations” beyond Ukraine’s capitulation.

Turkish defense giant Baykar expands Ukraine operations as innovations “explode”. Ukraine’s drone companies have grown from ‘few’ to ‘hundreds’ during war, says Baykar’s CEO.

International

Ukrainian civilians pay price after Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin, while US offers no aid to Kyiv. Nearly 3,500 drones and nearly 200 missiles in a single month show escalation is the Russian strategy.

Ceasefire must trigger “real” security guarantees from allies as Russia-Ukraine peace treaty may never be signed, says Zelenskyy. Zelensky acknowledges Ukraine’s situation “definitely differs from Korea,” while accepting that no final war-ending document may emerge.

What’s inside new International nuclear agency’s resolution on Ukraine’s occupied Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russia defies?. The world demands Zaporizhzhia’s plant return, but Moscow refuses to budge, leaving Europe on edge.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian missile strike ignites ATB warehouse fire in Dnipro during massive overnight assault. ATB Corporation confirmed one of its Dnipro warehouses suffered a direct rocket hit during Russia’s 20 Sept. assault, causing a fire and damaging several company trucks while all staff escaped injury.

Russia fires 619 missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities, killing civilians. A Russian cluster munition directly struck a multi-story residential building in Dnipro during a massive barrage involving 580 drones and 40 missiles, leaving one dead and 26 injured in the oblast

Political and legal developments

Intel: Russia’s economy transforms into military dependency, while oil revenues drop 17%. Russia has trapped itself in a “military rent” scenario where continuing the war becomes financially impossible, yet stopping it triggers mass unemployment and economic restructuring.

Russia’s business empire crumbles — yet its military still marches. Small businesses fail, innovation dies, but Moscow’s energy profits keep its economi alive.

Ukraine allocates record 955 billion hryvnias for weapons in 2026 budget. One-third of Ukraine’s 2.8 trillion hryvnia defense budget will fund weapons procurement in 2026, as the country prepares its fifth consecutive wartime budget amid mounting debt concerns

New developments

Kharkyova wins gold medal at World Military Championships. A 28-year-old Ukrainian fencer outclassed European bronze medalist Angeline Favre in today’s final, securing Ukraine’s 2nd gold medal at the world military championships in Spain.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that military escalation will compel Ukraine to accept his terms, while US President Donald Trump is unlikely to strengthen Kyiv’s defense, according to Bloomberg.

Sources close to the Russian authorities said that during the Anchorage meeting, Putin concluded that the US does not plan active intervention. This prompted the Kremlin to intensify attacks on military and civilian targets in Ukraine and continue strikes on energy infrastructure.

According to the UN, Russia has already killed 14,000 civilians in the war, with additional losses in Mariupol potentially reaching 100,000 civilians.

Escalation as a pressure strategy

In the month following the talks, the number of drone and missile attacks increased by approximately 46%, according to Bloomberg, based on data from the Ukrainian Air Force. On 16 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that since the beginning of September, Russia had launched 3,500 drones of various types, nearly 190 missiles, and over 2,500 bombs.

These included some of the largest missile and drone strikes since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, damaging government and residential buildings in Kyiv and Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.

This clearly indicates that Putin does not want to end the war against Ukraine. British MI6 Chief Richard Moore also confirmed this, saying that he sees “no evidence” of the Kremlin seeking peace talks or a settlement in Ukraine. He emphasized that the Russian president shows no interest in negotiations that do not involve Ukraine’s capitulation.

Conclusion: The Kremlin continues escalation

Despite the increase in airstrikes, Russia’s territorial advance has slowed, even with intensified pressure along the front lines. Russia redeployed 100,000 soldiers to attack Pokrovsk, a Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk, yet Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian forces managed to retake some territory in Donetsk.

“Russia’s summer 2025 offensive failed to secure control over any targeted cities in eastern Ukraine,” said Alex Kokcharov, a geoeconomics analyst at Bloomberg Economics.

Putin plans new victories before winter

The Russian president will continue participating in any ongoing dialogue with the US, but will act according to his own strategy.

“Putin seeks to achieve some visible victories by winter, but he is failing on the battlefield so far,” said Nikolai Petrov, a senior research fellow at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre.

He says that that’s why “Putin turns to nuclear blackmail and psychological pressure, including mass bombardments.”

On 18 September, US President Donald Trump concluded his second official visit to the UK. During a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the American president stated that he feels obliged to resolve the war in Ukraine and expressed hope that good news on this matter would come soon.

He also said that Putin had let him down on Ukraine. However, again, no additional measures or aid for Ukraine have been announced. 

Ukrainian partners could wait for a peace treaty between Ukraine and Russia, but as President Volodymyr Zelensky noted, this may never happen. That is why a ceasefire alone is sufficient to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, UNIAN reports. 

“These effective and reliable guarantees must be provided before the war ends,” Zelenskyy claims.

Is the Korean scenario relevant to Ukraine’s situation? 

The Ukrainian president was asked whether a “Korean scenario”, envisioning ending the war without a final peace treaty, is being considered and whether this is being discussed with US President Donald Trump.

“This may be discussed rhetorically, but our story is definitely different from Korea. And this brings us back to the question of security guarantees — why Ukraine needs them. It may happen that there is no final document ending the war,” Zelenskyy explains.

A ceasefire can provide guarantees

The Ukrainian president stressed that security guarantees should not be delayed until the end of the war. He noted that French President Emmanuel Macron shares this view.

“A ceasefire is sufficient to provide security guarantees. We cannot waste time waiting for a clear treaty ending the war,” Zelenskyy says. 

He clarifies that these guarantees must protect Ukraine from new aggression. 

“What security guarantees are important for us? Guarantees that prevent the ‘Russians’ from launching new aggression. Even if they try, they will face real resistance,” he underlines. 

Earlier, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that no one is willing to wage a war against the Kremlin, which makes security guarantees “unconvincing.” He added that current guarantees may have the same fate as the Budapest Memorandum, which has not protected Ukraine from aggression, despite the fact that Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons for a military shield by the US, the UK, and Russia. 

In his view, Kyiv requires substantial military aid, instead of empty promises. 

Ukraine’s Lviv has become a hub for defense innovation, drawing international investors into Ukraine’s cutting-edge technologies. At the Defense Tech Valley 2025 summit, Ukrainian Defense Companies attracted over $100 million.

Amid ongoing war and without guaranteed US aid or security assurances, Ukraine faces a critical need for robust defense funding to secure victory.

The annual cost of the war currently amounts to around $120 billion, with Ukraine seeking to allocate $60 billion from its 2026 state budget for defense, roughly half of what is actually needed. The remaining funds must come from international partners, making global investment in Ukraine’s defense sector crucial.

Defense Tech Valley 2025 summit

Over 5,000 participants from 50+ countries attended Defense Tech Valley 2025. At the event, four companies from Europe and the US announced plans to invest over $100 million in Ukrainian defense tech.

Key investments include: 

• NUNC Capital (Netherlands): €20 million for advanced materials, electronic warfare, and smart manufacturing.
• Verne Capital (Germany-Luxembourg): up to €25 million in European defense and cybersecurity companies.
• Varangians (Sweden): closed its first deal (details forthcoming).
• Oedipus Inc.: Europe’s first permanent capital fund focused solely on defense tech.

Boosting Ukrainian defense tech

According to Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Brave1 has helped Ukrainian defense companies raise $90 million since 2024, with the average investment growing from $300K to $1 million. The initiative continues to expand Ukraine’s defense tech ecosystem and foster international collaboration.

On 19 September, the Polish Border Guard reported that two Russian fighter jets conducted a low flyover above Petrobaltic, Poland’s only offshore oil and gas platform in the Baltic Sea, TVP World writes. 

Unlike Turkiye, which shot down a Russian Su-24 in 2015 for violating its airspace, European NATO members respond to such actions only by strengthening patrols and deploying additional forces under Operation Eastern Sentry.

Poland also did not down the jets over its oil platform. 

NATO on alert

Polish Armed Forces and other services were immediately informed of the violation. On 10 September, Poland shot down 4 out of 19 Russian drones in its airspace with support from NATO aircraft. On the same night, Ukrainian air defenses destroyed more than 380 drones by mobile fire groups across the country. 

Moscow denied targeting Poland after drones. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that no targets on Polish territory were intended. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the EU and NATO “accuse Russia of provocations daily,” and that Western institutions “lack evidence to support their accusations.”

A week later, Warsaw recorded another night of drone provocations from Russia and Belarus. The country’s Border Guard Service reported heightened activity of the enemy targets attempting to violate its airspace. 

Escalation in the Baltic Region

On the same day, three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace without authorization. They remained for about 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian F-35 jets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called these actions part of a systematic Russian campaign against Europe and NATO: “Small steps at first, and eventually major losses.”

The conclusion of the war in Ukraine will inevitably lead to an economic collapse in Russia. According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, military spending has become the main driver of the Russian economy, sidelining private business and civilian sectors. Strengthening Ukraine militarily and economically will accelerate Russia’s financial exhaustion.

Currently, Russia’s economy still largely depends on the oil sector, which accounts for about 77.7% of the federal budget. China remains Russia’s main economic partner. In 2024, bilateral trade between Russia and Beijing exceeded $240 billion. Beyond trade, China supplies Russia with critical components for producing military drones and equipment, boosting Moscow’s military capabilities.

The military-industrial complex keeps the economy Afloat

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia’s defense spending has risen to nearly 8% of GDP, making the military-industrial complex the sole driver of domestic demand. While the Kremlin supports growth in strategic sectors, it simultaneously destabilizes the broader economy, leaving small and medium-sized businesses without prospects.

Mass layoffs after the war

Once the war ends, Moscow will be forced to cut defense spending. Millions of workers in the military-industrial complex will lose their jobs, and entire regions will be left without an economic foundation.

The demobilization of hundreds of thousands of contract soldiers will create an additional shock to the labor market.

Budget deficit and decline of civilian production

Russia’s federal budget is already strained: revenues in the first half of 2025 fell by nearly 17% due to declining oil and gas income.

Russia rehearses caution in demobilization from war in Ukraine—but 1989 Afghan lesson haunts Kremlin

Sanctions and import restrictions on technology force Russian companies to produce cheaper, simpler goods, reducing competitiveness and closing opportunities in global high-tech markets.

Inevitable economic crisis

Russia is trapped in a “military rent” scenario: continuing to finance the war is increasingly difficult, yet cutting spending without triggering economic collapse is impossible. Resolving this crisis will require a long and painful restructuring of the entire system.

The British Foreign Office announced on 19 September the launch of Silent Courier, a Darknet messaging platform designed to streamline the recruitment of intelligence personnel. The platform, operated under the UK’s MI6, targets potential agents in Russia and other countries, according to the BBC. 

Relations between Moscow and London have worsened in recent years, as Russia has repeatedly threatened NATO countries, including the UK, in response to London’s military aid to Ukraine. A recent update to the UK’s Strategic Defence Review stated that the threat from Russia is at its highest level since the Cold War.

Meanwhile, Russia has escalated espionage and sabotage operations on foreign soil, not only within Ukraine, but also beyond, targeting Ukraine’s allied countries largely in Europe.

On 18 September, three people were arrested in the town of Grays, Essex, England, on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence services. This has raised concerns about foreign states using British citizens as local proxies.

Technology supporting national security

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the evolving global threats require ensuring the UK is “always one step ahead” of adversaries.

“Our world-class intelligence agencies are at the coalface of this challenge, working behind the scenes to keep British people safe. Now we’re bolstering their efforts with cutting-edge tech so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK – in Russia and around the world,” Cooper said.

The portal will be open from 19 September for anyone willing to share confidential information about terrorism or hostile intelligence activity. Usage instructions will be published on MI6’s verified YouTube channel. To maintain confidentiality, users are advised to access the platform through secure VPNs and devices not personally linked to them.

Earlier, General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, suggested that the US and European countries may have no more than 18 months to prepare for a potential large-scale military conflict with China and Russia.

Russia’s economy is shrinking, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. Russia’s small and medium-sized enterprises are on the brink of survival.

Record drop in registered companies

According to the agency, the number of registered businesses in Russia fell to its lowest level since 2010. It is just 3.17 million as of 1 September 2025. By comparison, there were 3.29 million companies in 2023.

Causes of the crisis

The main factors driving the business decline are the high interest rate of the Central Bank, which stayed at 21% annually for six months, and intensified tax control.

In 2024, the Russian tax authorities liquidated 100,000 legal entities, compared to 172,000 in 2023 and over 214,000 in 2022. Rather than revitalizing the market, this has weakened competition, reduced jobs, and decreased innovation.

Business “mortality” exceeds “birthrate”

For the first half of 2025, more companies closed than were created, a trend not seen since 2022. Trade, construction, and industrial enterprises were hardest hit. Even with a slight reduction of the key rate to 17%, the market continues to contract, leaving little chance for growth in Russia’s small and medium-sized business sector.

Ukrainian fencer Vlada Kharkyova claimed victory at the CISM World Military Championships in Seville, Spain, according to the Ukrainian Fencing Federation.

The 28-year-old athlete defeated Switzerland’s Angeline Favre 15-9 in today’s épée final on 20 September. Favre, a bronze medalist at the 2024 European Championships, could not match Kharkyova’s performance in the decisive bout.

This marks Kharkyova’s second world championship title. She previously won her debut world championship gold in July at a tournament in Georgia, reports the Ukrainian Fencing Federation.

Ukraine’s national team finished the CISM World Championships-2025 with five medals total: two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

The federation also noted that Ukrainian para-fencers secured third place at the World Championships in South Korea.

 A missile from the Russian overnight assault struck an ATB supermarket chain warehouse, triggering a fire that has since been extinguished, local Telegram channel reported on 20 September.

On the night of 19-20 September, Russian forces attacked Dnipro, damaging a high-rise building during a large-scale combined attack on the city. Casualty figures from the broader attack have risen to 30 people, with 12 currently hospitalized, according to Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak.

“One of the rockets during the shelling of Dnipro hit our warehouse. A fire broke out, which has now been extinguished, and several company trucks were damaged. Fortunately, none of the employees were injured,” Serhiy Demchenko, head of corporate communications at ATB Corporation, said.

The warehouse fire was contained by emergency services, though the attack damaged multiple commercial vehicles belonging to the company, according to Demchenko’s statement to Chas Pik.

The warehouse strike occurred during Russia’s massive overnight assault on Ukraine that deployed 619 drones and missiles, with Ukrainian forces reporting 583 intercepted or suppressed, according to the provided information. The attack also targeted residential areas, with Russian forces hitting a multi-story apartment building in Dnipro during the same bombardment.

Ukrainian forces responded by striking strategic targets in Russia’s Saratov and Samara oblasts during the night of 20 September.