Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) published a detailed analysis of Russia’s new turbojet attack drone, the Geran-3 “U” series, showing it relies heavily on foreign components. The drone, a localized version of the Iranian Shahed-238, incorporates parts from the US, China, Switzerland, Germany, Britain, and Japan.

Despite Western sanctions, Russia continues to acquire foreign technology for its weapons programs. Moscow remains able to develop and produce advanced weapons systems for its war against Ukraine.

In total, 45 foreign components were identified in the new Russian Geran-3 drone: 

• roughly half from American manufacturers;
• eight from China;
• seven from Switzerland;
• three from Germany;
• two from Britain, and 
• one from Japan. 

The Russian Geran-3 drone

HUR reports that the drone can operate at ranges up to 1000 km, and can reach speeds of 300-370 km/h, powered by a Chinese Telefly JT80 turbojet engine.

It can reach its top speed in areas covered by Ukrainian air defenses, electronic warfare systems, and drone interception zones, and during the terminal stage of its flight descending towards a target. 

To maintain satellite navigation in contested areas, the Geran-3 also features a jam-resistant navigation system with a 12-element adaptive antenna array known as Kometa-M12.

The drone’s internal layout closely mirrors that of the gasoline-powered Geran-2, including a standard inertial navigation system, air pressure measurement unit, and power distribution unit. The drone also uses cameras and video systems adapted from earlier Geran-2 models.

Russia’s Geran drone is a locally made version of the Iranian Shahed drone, supplied by Iran and used against Ukraine. Moscow is producing its own variants and gradually improving their design and capabilities.

Russia uses these drones to carry out long-range attacks on Ukrainian targets, including civilian areas and critical infrastructure.

HUR published the findings as part of its “Means of Destruction” series, which now catalogs over 5,000 foreign components in 177 weapons systems used by Russia and its allies. The Geran-3 is the eighth Russian weapon system to be detailed in the series.

Fighters from the “Steel Border” brigade are sharing their experience in countering the enemy’s use of fiber-optic FPV drones. According to them, such devices are less vulnerable to electronic warfare systems but are at the same time heavier and less maneuverable, which gives Ukrainian troops certain tactical advantages.

They are used for reconnaissance and precision strikes, posing a serious threat to Ukrainian infantry and armored vehicles. This makes developing effective countermeasures a vital part of Ukraine’s defense effort.

The commander of an intelligence unit with the callsign Veduchyi, serving in the reconnaissance Askold detachment, explained:

UAV operations are a coordinated team effort, where the speed of information exchange and coordination save lives. Border guards said they employ various methods to neutralize fiber-optic copters; sometimes simple tools or accurate fire are enough to disable the device. The report even mentions a case where a drone was destroyed after its fiber cable was cut with scissors.

They also emphasized the difference between mass-produced Russian drones, which come with fixed reels and built-in cameras, and Ukrainian drones, which are modular and can be adapted for specific missions. Because of these differences, Ukrainian units adjust their tactics for using UAVs in urban areas and during clearance operations.

An example from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment describes a method where a fiber-optic FPV drone flies ahead of the infantry to check buildings, significantly reducing risks for assault groups: if the enemy is detected, the drone marks the target and the infantry advance along a safer route. Commanders describe this approach as both safer and more effective in urban combat.

Ukraine unveiled a new robotic battlefield platform — a ground drone, capable of transporting over 2 tons of cargo, navigating without GPS, and supporting both logistics and direct combat roles, Ukrainian defense news site Militarnyi reports.

Ukraine presents VATAG heavy robotic ground system

On 16 September 2025, Ukraine officially introduced the VATAG heavy NRK — “robotic ground complex,” a multifunctional platform designed to support troops on the battlefield across a range of tasks. The system can carry more than 2 tons of payload, powered by a hybrid propulsion system that enables autonomous operation and high fuel efficiency, Militarnyi says.

The drone is built to handle a diverse set of missions — from logistics transport and engineering duties to direct participation in combat operations. According to the developers, VATAG’s features include a silent mode for covert missions, the ability to operate as a mobile powerbank for frontline units, and built-in resistance to electronic warfare.

Designed for the battlefield — not just the backend

The VATAG platform goes beyond transport. It integrates armament options, including a proprietary 25 mm combat module revealed alongside the system. This allows the robot to actively support armed engagements, not just logistical functions.

Its architecture reportedly enables autonomous navigation without relying on GPS, using convoy mode and obstacle avoidance to move through contested environments. This allows it to support forces even in areas under heavy jamming or in need of stealth movement. The system’s hybrid power unit improves fuel efficiency.

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The drone reportedly includes software-hardware solutions powered by artificial intelligence that enhance its autonomous capabilities.

Militarnyi says the system was developed by an international robotics and drone company with 11 years of experience, already having a manufacturing base capable of launching full-scale production and adapting components to meet customer requirements rapidly.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on 15 September that the State Protection Service neutralized a drone flying above Warsaw’s government quarter. The incident ended with the detention of two Belarusian citizens, and police are now investigating.

Tusk wrote:

“A short while ago, the State Protection Service neutralized a drone operating over government buildings (Parkowa) and Belweder. Two Belarusian citizens were detained. The police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.”

Drone spotted over presidential residence

Associated Press reported that the aircraft was detected near Belweder Castle, the official residence of Poland’s president. Colonel Boguslaw Piorkowski of the State Protection Service confirmed that two of his personnel stationed at Belweder spotted the drone above the compound and acted quickly. The operators were detained shortly afterward.

Piorkowski told AP that the device was not shot down but landed once the suspected operators were apprehended. The exact type of drone and the means of neutralization have not been disclosed.

Officials warn against hasty conclusions

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Poland’s minister of development funds and regional policy, told TVN 24 that “the impression is that this is not something that flew in” from abroad but rather launched within Poland. She urged against rushing to conclusions or connecting the incident to Russian drone incursions that took place last week.

Rising tensions after Russian drone incursions and Belarusian spy activity in Poland

Militarnyi noted that on 9 September, Polish authorities detained a Belarusian agent and decided to expel a Belarusian diplomat who supported hostile activities against Poland. That arrest was part of a wider operation with Romanian and Czech services targeting a Belarusian intelligence network active in Europe. The outlet noted that it is possible agents linked to that network were also involved in launching the Warsaw drone.

A new Ukrainian military robot is rolling out. Oboronka news site reports that the 4-ton ground drone named “Bufalo” is diesel-powered, armored, and built for AI-assisted frontline logistics and demining.

Bufalo: Ukraine’s new diesel-driven ground drone for war

Bufalo’s key advantage is its diesel engine. Fuel tanks can be scaled by mission, giving it a range of 100–200 km without battery swaps. Developers say electric drones can’t meet today’s longer frontlines.

“Electric drones cannot cover the distance to deliver provisions and ammunition to the front,” said company head Vladyslav.

Built for real combat conditions

Bufalo’s chassis is armored with European steel. It withstands any bullet and indirect 152 mm artillery if shells land beyond 100 meters. Even if damaged, its wheels remain operational.

The drone uses Starlink with GPS or a radio link for communications. A CRPA antenna protects satellite signal from jamming. If Starlink fails or is disabled, a relay-equipped drone can take over the signal.

AI-driven navigation, but no killer robot

Bufalo uses onboard cameras to detect obstacles up to 15 meters away, suggest safe routes, and stop if needed. Navigation is assisted by AI, but decisions stay human-controlled.

“The robot can lock onto and follow a target, but it will not make decisions to destroy equipment or people. I will never allow it to make decisions in place of a human…” said Vladyslav.

From failure to battlefield resilience

The idea for Bufalo came after a drone prototype failed a demo—losing a wheel and flipping. A soldier dismissed the tech, pushing Vladyslav to start from scratch. His new team asked the General Staff for requirements and collected feedback from frontline units.

Requests included smoke grenades, armored wheels, a shielded bottom to resist mines, and Starlink integration. All were implemented.

Timeline and domestic focus

The Bufalo project launched in January 2025. From March to August, the team built and tested the demining version. That kit includes the drone, a hydraulic system, mulcher, control panel, and trailer.

What’s next for Bufalo?

Bufalo is modular and may get combat features soon. The team is exploring weapon modules and engineering tools like remote trenching scoops. An 11-channel radio jamming system has passed tests and is ready for integration.

“We’re building an infrastructurally simple drone, so one control system can be removed and another installed. We’ve made understandable communication interfaces. The EW manufacturer just needs to provide a connector—we’ll plug it in and it’ll work automatically,” said Vladyslav.

The team plans an official presentation, followed by codification and production. Initial output will be 10 drones per month, with plans to scale.

Ukraine confirmed on 14 September that its drone forces shot down a rare heavy Russian Orion UAV near the border in Kursk Oblast. The Orion is a cruise missile-capable heavy combat drone, rarely used by Moscow due to its limited availability and vulnerability to Ukrainian air defense, Militarnyi reports.

Ukrainian drone units intercept rare Orion UAV

According to the Commander of Ukraine’s Drone Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, the 414th Separate Drone Systems Brigade successfully destroyed the Russian Orion drone using an interceptor UAV. This marked the first time the brigade brought down an Orion model, despite having previously intercepted nearly 1,500 enemy drones. These included various types such as Orlan, ZALA, SuperCam, Shahed, and Lancet, with larger targets like Merlin and Forpost among the most significant until now.

OSINT experts geolocated the interception site to the area around Tyotkino, in Kursk Oblast, Russia, just next to the Ukrainian border. The coordinates were confirmed as 51.2862, 34.3813. This location lies just across the border from Ukrainian territory.

A coordinated strike by multiple Ukrainian units

Before the final blow, the Orion UAV had already sustained damage from interceptor drones operated by Ukraine’s 95th Air Assault Brigade. The final strike was delivered by the Ptakhy Madyara team of the 414th brigade. 

The Russian military has rarely deployed Orion drones in combat due to both their limited numbers and high susceptibility to Ukraine’s layered air defense network, Militarnyi noted. 

Background on the Orion drone program

The Orion UAV was developed by the Kronstadt Group beginning in 2011. The first prototype was completed in 2015, with operational testing drones handed over in April 2020. Serial production began in August 2020.

According to Militarnyi, Orion can be armed with guided munitions including Kh-50 missiles, KAB-20 bombs, and other types such as UPAB-50, KAB-50, FAB-50, and the Kh-BPLA missile. It is also capable of launching the compact S8000 Banderol cruise missile.

President Donald Trump’s restrained reaction to Russian drones violating Polish airspace this week has triggered anxiety among European allies who question his commitment to NATO defense obligations, according to Reuters.

The incident occurred on 10 September when 19 Russian drones, many flying from Belarus, crossed into Poland during attacks on Ukraine, prompting NATO members to fire on Russian targets for the first time since the full-scale war began.

Poland, using Polish F-16s, Dutch F-35s, and Italian AWACS, shot down at least four drones that had entered its airspace.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala characterized the incident as Putin’s regime “systematically probing how far it can go,” though Russia and Belarus denied responsibility for the airspace violations.

Trump’s response

Trump’s initial reaction came through a cryptic post on his Truth Social platform: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!”

When pressed by reporters the following day about the Russian drone incursion, Trump suggested “it could have been a mistake.”

However, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected this notion, flatly contradicting the assessment that drones could have entered Poland in error.

Poland activated Article 4 of NATO’s treaty following the incident, under which alliance members can demand consultations when a member’s territorial integrity or security is threatened.

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European diplomatic concerns

Multiple European diplomatic sources described reactions ranging from dismay to confusion. A senior German official told Reuters that while the US participated in drone discussions with NATO allies, America appeared “hesitant” and the drone attack revealed significant gaps in NATO’s preparedness.

The official stated: “With this US administration, we can’t rely on anything. But we have to pretend that we could.”

An Eastern European diplomat characterized Washington’s response as problematic, telling Reuters:

“No one in NATO has been particularly reassured by the US at this point. Washington’s silence has been almost deafening.”

An Italian official indicated that alliance members formed a mostly negative impression of the US response while avoiding open criticism.

Contrast with previous crisis management

The response differed markedly from previous US handling of threats against NATO allies. When reports suggested a Russian missile struck a Polish village in November 2022, then-President Joe Biden quickly convened emergency meetings with world leaders and shifted into crisis management mode. That incident was later determined to involve a misfired Ukrainian air defense missile.

Ivo Daalder, US ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013 and now a senior fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center, told Reuters:

“This episode underscores that Trump, in contrast to every president since Roosevelt, does not see Europe’s security is fundamental to American security.”

Trump’s pattern of sanctions threats

Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Moscow to agree ceasefires with Ukraine or face new sanctions, only to withdraw from these positions.

He told Fox News Friday that his patience with Putin was “running out fast,” though he stopped short of threatening new sanctions over the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Instead, Trump welcomed Putin at a peace summit in Alaska in mid-August but failed to secure major concessions.

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Official NATO response

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced plans to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank defense, stating that Trump had made “absolutely clear that we all stand together on this.”

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US military role in the attack

US warplanes played no role in shooting down the drones that violated Polish airspace, which US officials attributed to Dutch military responsibility for Polish air space under NATO’s air policing mission at the time.

A White House official told Reuters that the president “wants this war, which was brought on by Joe Biden’s incompetence, to end as quickly as possible” and that Russia and Ukraine should halt the conflict while Europe should “do its part by putting economic pressure on countries that finance the war.”

Romanian authorities issued an alert on Saturday for the northern area of Tulcea County after a Russian drone was detected in the country’s airspace, Romanian media outlet Digi24.ro reports. Citizens were warned of potential falling objects and urged to take protective measures.

The incident follows a pattern of Russian drones violating NATO airspace in recent days. On 10 September, a wave of Russian drones entered Poland, causing alarm among NATO members. 

The Romanian Ministry of National Defence said two F-16 fighter jets from Fetesti Air Base took off at 18:05 to monitor the airspace near the border with Ukraine, following Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian infrastructure along the nearby Danube river. 

The jets detected the drone near Chilia Veche, tracking it for roughly 50 minutes as it operated about 10 kilometers inside Romanian territory before disappearing from radar. 

The drone did not fly over populated areas and posed no imminent threat to civilians. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the incident, noting that Russian drones were active throughout the day in various regions of Ukraine. 

“The Russian military clearly knows the targets of their drones and how long they can stay in the air. Flight routes are always carefully calculated,” Zelenskyy said. 

“This cannot be accidental, a mistake, or the result of rogue actions by lower-level commanders. This is a deliberate expansion of the war by Russia.”

Zelenskyy called for sanctions, trade tariffs, and a coordinated system of collective defense. He said Ukraine has urged its partners to establish such protections proactively, warning against waiting for further drone or missile attacks before taking action.

The Tulcea Emergency Situations Inspectorate emphasized that Romania’s territory is not the direct target of Russian attacks and that the air alert, lasting roughly 90 minutes, was precautionary. 

Poland also responded to a separate threat on Saturday, mobilizing military aircraft after Russian drones were reported in Ukrainian regions bordering the country.

Polish authorities scrambled fighter jets and suspended operations at Lublin Airport on Saturday after reports of Russian drones in Ukrainian regions near the Polish border.

The incident comes after a wave of Russian drones entered Poland on 10 September, prompting NATO to review its eastern defenses. 

“Due to the threat of drone strikes in Ukrainian regions bordering Poland, military aircraft have been deployed in our airspace,” the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on Facebook. 

“Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have been placed on the highest state of readiness,” the statement continued.

The Operational Command said that the measures are preventive, aimed at ensuring the safety of Polish airspace and protecting citizens near areas under threat. 

NATO has announced a new defensive initiative, “Eastern Sentry,” aimed at strengthening the alliance’s ability to respond to Russian drone incursions. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich made the announcement at a joint press conference on 12 September 2025. 

This comes just two days after a wave of Russian drones entered Polish territory, sparking alarm among NATO members.

The operation is a direct response to Poland invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which calls for consultations among allies when a member’s territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened.

Rutte said Eastern Sentry will bolster the eastern flank, ensuring the safety and security of alliance nations.

The operation will begin in the coming days and involve military assets from Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other member states.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the effort will combine traditional military capabilities with measures specifically designed to address drone threats. 

“Eastern Sentry will add flexibility and strength to our posture, and make clear that, as a defensive alliance, we are always ready to defend,” he said.

SACEUR highlighted that integrated air- and ground-based defenses will be central to the initiative. While the immediate focus is on Poland, he emphasized that the threat transcends national borders and affects the entire alliance. 

Eastern Sentry will enhance deterrence, increase information sharing, and allow rapid deployment of counter-drone technologies.

Ukraine has struck the same Russian fuel facility for the second time in a week. The long-range drone attack targeted the Vtorovo pumping station, a critical node in Russia’s internal fuel infrastructure. Video of the surfaced on Ukrainian Telegram channels on 12 September. It is unclear if the strike took place on the same day or earlier.

Kyiv hits Vtorovo hub again

The video, shared by Telegram channel Supernova+, shows Ukrainian long-range drone Liutyi struck the Vtorovo pumping station, located in Russia’s Vladimir Oblast, for the second time since 7 September.

Ukrainian OSINT project Cyberboroshno analyzed the footage of the impact and concluded that the strike directly affected the overpass infrastructure carrying key operational systems. 

According to Cyberboroshno’s analysis, the drone hit a technical overpass structure at the station, damaging pipeline segments, signal cables, and power lines.

The station is owned by the company Verkhnevolzhsknefteprodukt, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned pipeline monopoly Transneft. It serves as an intermediate pumping point on the route from Vtorovo to Tuma and then to Ryazan, supporting diesel and aviation fuel transportation.

Vtorovo plays a critical role in maintaining pressure and flow within Russia’s main fuel pipeline network. It contains reserve tanks for operational stock and helps stabilize supply toward the Ryazan oil refinery. The station also oversees the eastern segment of the system, connecting the Upper Volga region with Ryazan.

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First strike on 7 September

The first drone strike occurred on 7 September, when UAVs from Ukraine’s 14th regiment of unmanned systems hit the Vtorovo facility. Satellite imagery reviewed by Dnipro OSINT showed visible damage to two fuel reserve tanks. These tanks were part of the system used to maintain pipeline pressure and flow stability.

Following the 7 September attack, the commander of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Unmanned Systems, Robert Brovdi (“Madyar”), hinted at its impact.

“Fuel in Moscow is a bit glitchy, they say,” he noted, referencing damage to the Vtorovo pumping station and its link to the Moscow Ring Petroleum Products Pipeline.

Ukraine launched a long-range drone strike on 12 September targeting key oil infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. Russian news Telegram channel Astra reports that several fires broke out at the Primorsk oil port in Leningrad Oblast after drones penetrated nearly 1000 km from Ukraine.

Primorsk port hit by Ukrainian drones in overnight attack

According to Astra, the port of Primorsk—Russia’s largest oil terminal on the Baltic Sea—was hit in the early hours of 12 September. Leningrad Oblast governor Aleksandr Drozdenko confirmed that a fire broke out on a vessel at the port. Firefighting systems were activated and the “open fire” was allegedly extinguished. Officials claimed there was no threat of sinking or oil spill.

The governor also stated that another fire erupted at a pumping station in Primorsk and was later extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Drones across Leningrad Oblast

Astra cited local residents in the town of Tosno — a town south of St Petersburg — reporting explosions overnight. The Leningrad Oblast governor said Russian air defenses engaged drones over several districts, including Volosovsky, Tosnensky, Gatchinsky, Lomonosovsky, and Pushkinsky in St Petersburg.

The governor stated that debris and fragments from downed drones fell in multiple populated areas, including Tosno, Vsevolozhsk, and the villages of Pokrovskoe and Uzmino, as well as outside residential areas in Lomonosovsky district. Authorities said no fires or injuries occurred at these sites, but the impact zones were cordoned off.

Astra also reported that explosions continued to be heard across Leningrad Oblast and St Petersburg throughout the night in one of the largest drone attacks on the region since the war’s start.

Flights disrupted at Pulkovo Airport

As a result of the drone attack, operations at Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg were heavily impacted. According to airport operator statements cited by Russian state agency RIA Novosti, 28 flights were delayed, 13 canceled, and 11 aircraft were diverted to alternate airfields.

Russia claims massive drone interception

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that air defenses downed a total of 221 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country. Of these, 28 were allegedly intercepted over Leningrad Oblast alone. The ministry also listed drones shot down over several other oblasts, including Bryansk, Smolensk, Kaluga, Novgorod, Moscow region, Belgorod, Rostov, Tver, Pskov, Tula, and Kursk.

Ukrainian civilians continued to face Russia’s daily drone, missile, and artillery assaults, with Moscow strikes killing at least 6 civilians and injuring 19 across multiple oblasts yesterday and last night.

Last night, Russia launched a smaller wave of long-range explosive drones than usual—only three dozens instead of usual hundreds, but still inflicted deadly strikes. Russian Shahed drones, FPVs, missiles, and other weapons hurt Ukrainian civilians across Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

Ukraine’s Air Force says it has intercepted or jammed most long-range drones. Despite that, multiple strikes landed, including one in Sumy that killed a man trapped under rubble after Russia launched a second drone before rescuers could reach him.

Ukraine downs 33 drones—but six hit civilian targets

Ukraine’s Air Force reported on 12 September that Russia launched 40 strike drones, including Shahed explosive drones, Gerbera decoys, and others, from Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Over 20 of them were Shaheds, capable of carrying up to 90 kg of explosives. The attack began at 22:00 on 11 September and continued overnight. Air defense forces, mobile units, electronic warfare systems, and drone systems responded.

Sumy: Guard killed under rubble, teenagers injured, rescue blocked

On the morning of 12 September, Sumy experienced multiple explosions. Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar confirmed that two of them were drone strikes on a non-residential building. Suspilne noted the facility was a car service station. The attack targeted Sumy’s industrial area in Zarichnyi district, damaging infrastructure, transport, and multiple non-residential buildings.

According to the head of the oblast, Oleh Hryhorov, a 65-year-old security guard initially survived the first hit and contacted others. But after a second Russian drone struck, contact was lost. His body was later found beneath the debris.

Hryhorov said emergency services could not immediately conduct rescue and cleanup due to a Russian ZALA drone hovering above the area, blocking access to the site. The ZALAs are Russian reconnaissance drones, adjusting missile and drone strikes.

Elsewhere in Sumy oblast, in Velykopysarivska hromada, a Russian FPV drone hit a field road, injuring two 16-year-old teenagers who were riding a motorcycle.

Also in Sumy Raion, on the evening of 11 September, a Russian FPV drone struck a civilian car, injuring a 19-year-old girl, who was hospitalized.

On the morning of 12 September, Russia launched a missile strike on the Bytytsia rural community, part of the Sumy hromada, killing an unspecified number of people.

Yesterday’s attacks also targeted multiple civilian buildings. On 11 September, Russia damaged a hospital, school, vocational college, and homes in Sumy. Later, a Russian drone struck the Voskresenskyi Cathedral, breaking windows and damaging the structure. Earlier that morning, a Molniya drone hit a household on Kulykivska Street.

Local authorities report: Russia targets civilians across Ukraine

• Zaporizhzhia Oblast: In Primorske, a man died after a Russian drone strike on 11 September. The following day, a Russian airstrike hit Uspenivka, killing another man.
• Kharkiv Oblast: In Kupiansk district, Russian forces attacked Kivsharivka with artillery, injuring a paramedic and a medical technician when their ambulance came under fire. In Osynove, an FPV drone hit a police vehicle, injuring five officers. In Hrushivka, a Russian airstrike injured three civilians.
• Donetsk Oblast: Russian aviation struck Kostyantynivka with high-explosive bombs. A resident was pulled from the rubble alive, while another died, with their body still under debris.
• Kherson Oblast: Russian shelling injured a man in Kherson, a woman in Bilozerka, and a man in Mykilske. All were hospitalized, and one of them is in serious condition.
• Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: Russia attacked Nikopol and Synelnykove districts, injuring two women. Fires broke out, including in residential buildings.

Russian reinforcements are surging into Donetsk Oblast, staging for what many observes anticipate will be a major mechanized assault on the fortress city of Pokrovsk.

But Ukrainian forces aren’t just sitting around waiting for the attack. They’re positioning their own reinforcements around Pokrovsk. And they’re hitting the newly arriving Russian regiments at their assembly points in Donetsk City—potentially with a previously unknown cruise missile type.

That Ukraine can still surprise observers with a new missile type isn’t actually all that surprising. Forty-three months into Russia’s wider war, Ukraine has become a world-leader in deep-strike technology. By necessity.

On Monday, the Ukrainians targeted the defunct Topaz metallurgy plant on the eastern edge of Donetsk City, 50 km southeast of Pokrovsk. The plant is well-known as a staging base for Russian forces moving toward the Donetsk front line.

A barrage of aerial munitions pummeled Topaz. Photos and videos from the plant confirmed no fewer than three different types of munitions. Possibly more.

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Among other weapons, it seems the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces or special services struck Topaz with propeller-driven An-196 and, potentially, Morok attack drones. Meanwhile, the air force launched locally made Bars or Peklo cruise missiles as well as British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The missiles and drones zoomed in one after another, in quick succession. Imagery from the aftermath of the attack pointed to heavy damage. Other imagery may have revealed fragments of a new Ukrainian missile.

The potentially 3-m missile seems to have a simple fiberglass fuselage and wing and a dorsal pylon for what appears to be a K-450 miniature jet engine made by Taiwanese company KingTech.

The wreckage doesn’t match the Peklo’s sleeker profile. Nor does it match the admittedly few things we might know about the Bars. That first imagery of what may be a crashed Bars seems to point to a different engine type—a SW400 from Chinese firm Swiwin.

Is there a third Ukrainian cruise missile type in the class of the Peklo and Bars? Or did the designers of the Bars switch to a Taiwanese engine? We don’t know.

But we shouldn’t be shocked if the Topaz attack involved a new missile type.

Mass production

Ukrainian firms build long-range attack drones at a rate of at thousands per month—and the Ukrainian military and special services launch them at Russian air bases, factories and oil refineries as far as 1,000 km from the front line, on a roughly weekly basis.

Back in December, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine would acquire 30,000 one-way attack drones in 2025. It’s evident actual deliveries will exceed that goal. Fire Point, the firm that builds the Flamingo, claimed it’s already churning out 100 FP-1 attack drones every day.

To add range and firepower to its escalating deep-strike campaign, Ukraine is also developing cruise missiles including the Peklo, the Bars, and the Flamingo. Hundreds of millions of dollars in financing from the United Kingdom and Germany are helping Ukraine ramp up production of these new missiles.

The Peklo and Bars may both range around 800 km, likely with small-ish warheads—possibly lighter than 100 kg. The Flamingo is in a whole different class. It reportedly ranges 3,000 km with a 1,100-kg warhead. All three types are jet-propelled—and thus fast—and probably navigate using a combination of satellites and internal inertial systems.

The Flamingo is a ground-launched weapon; the Peklo and Bars may be compatible with the Ukrainian air force’s upgraded Sukhoi Su-24 bombers, which also launch the Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles Ukraine has received from the United Kingdom, France, and Italy.

It’s unclear whether that fourth Ukrainian cruise missile type—if indeed that’s what we witness in the Topaz raid—launches from the ground or from the air.

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Today, there are interesting updates from the Sumy direction.

Here, Ukrainians have completely annihilated the Russian Sumy offensive from the air, launching devastating strikes all across the board. With even redeployed air defense assets falling victim to Western-supplied bombs, Russian operations are falling apart at the seams as each sector is meticulously targeted without mercy.

Ukrainian forces dismantle Russian air defenses before launching full-scale aerial assault

Ukraine’s armed forces have decisively crushed the Russian offensive into Sumy by cutting off their supply and reinforcement routes through continuous targeting from the air.

This success was made possible by Ukraine’s systematic clearing of the skies, with Russian air defense assets stretched across the entire frontline being repeatedly hunted down. Buk and Tor systems, deployed to protect Russian command posts and depots, became prime targets. In one case, a Russian Tor system continuously hampered Ukrainian attempts at air strikes, resulting in the air defense system becoming the target instead. In another, a Russian Tor battery malfunctioned trying to intercept a Ukrainian air strike, with the missile veering off course and striking a nearby Russian ammunition storage instead. Additionally, Ukrainian operators used fiber-optic FPV drones to stalk and destroy Buk launchers. With these systems eliminated or suppressed, the preparation was done, and the Ukrainian strike aircraft were free to operate over the front.

Western bombs shatter Russian spearhead near Tyotkino and across Kursk

The first major blow landed near Tyotkino. Ukrainian fighters used AASM HAMMER bombs and J-dams to strike infantry groups and ammunition stores at Lokot, Tetkino, and Dronivka, while a bridge at Zabolotivka was demolished to sever supply routes.

Drone operators in Glushkovo were targeted with J-dam strikes, while troops sheltering in a grain elevator at Tyotkino were buried under rubble. Additional airstrikes leveled drone coordination centers in Korovyakivka and troop concentrations across Tyotkino, followed by hits on crossings at Zvannoye. Each wave of HAMMERs and J-dams bombs shattered Russian attempts to mass forces, leaving corpses and destroyed buildings across the Kursk villages, feeding the offensive.

Ukrainian aviation strikes deep behind the border, targeting drone hubs and infantry strongholds

Further southeast, on the Sumy side of the border, the blows continued and opened huge gaps in the Russian lines. Ukrainian aviation destroyed bases from where Russian drone operators were operating at Oleksiivka and Loknia, undermining Russian drone support capabilities, before destroying forces concentrations at Kindrativka and Oleksiivka, where Russian infantry had fortified inside of civilian buildings.

In Yunakivka, multiple bridges and troop concentrations were hit, leaving Russian soldiers buried in collapsed structures.

Major General killed as 155th Marine Brigade headquarters destroyed in Korenevo

Perhaps the most devastating blow came in the Kursk region north of the border, where the headquarters of the 155th Marine Brigade was obliterated at Korenevo while preparing for redeployment to Pokrovsk. High-ranking officers, including Major General Gudkov, were killed, gutting the command of one of Russia’s elite formations.

Additional strikes prevented the Russians from being able to fill in these gaps and leveled command centers at Kulbaki and troop concentrations in Sudzha. In each case, Ukrainian reconnaissance drones adjusted the targeting with lethal precision, ensuring no survivors and capturing the events on footage.

Belgorod strikes block Russian reinforcements from stabilizing the front

On the eastern flank, Ukrainian aircraft struck across Belgorod to prevent Russian reinforcements from stabilizing the situation and trying to hit the Ukrainian counterattacks from the side. HAMMER bombs flattened enemy garrisons in Kozynka, while J-dams destroyed drone control posts at Repyakhivka.

Bridges and positions at Guevo and Grafivka were pounded, and strikes at Kolotylivka killed entire groups of infantry. By hammering both the staging grounds and supply arteries in Belgorod and Kursk, Ukraine ensured that Russian columns advancing toward Sumy were bled dry before even reaching the border.

Russia pulls units as offensive collapses, Ukraine controls the skies

Overall, what the Russian high command once threatened as a march on Sumy city now lies in ruins, its spearheads shattered by Ukrainian airpower and its command structure gutted with the evident result of a collapsed Russian offensive.

Russia has begun pulling units from this sector to reinforce Pokrovsk, a clear sign that the offensive has failed. Ukrainian air superiority, established by dismantling Russian air defenses and exploiting gaps with precision bombs, was the decisive factor, and for the Russian command, dreams of reaching the capital of Sumy are gone. For Ukraine, the skies over the region now belong firmly to them, and their dominance has rewritten the course of the campaign.

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 UK Government has announced it will begin mass-producing Ukrainian-designed interceptor drones under a new industrial partnership, marking a major shift in how Britain supports Ukraine’s defense against Russia.

UK to mass produce Ukrainian-designed drones under new tech-sharing deal

The UK Government’s press release says that the first product of the expanded defense partnership is Project OCTOPUS, an air defense interceptor drone developed in Ukraine with UK technical support. The drone has already been used successfully against Russian Shahed one-way attack drones and will now be built at scale in Britain. Officials say production will reach thousands of units per month.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the move a “landmark moment,” adding that the partnership harnesses both countries’ defense industries.

“By helping Ukraine defend itself against Putin’s barbaric attacks, we are also creating British jobs, driving growth, and securing our own future,” he said.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey said the initiative would allow UK companies “unprecedented access” to next-generation designs.

“We will innovate at a wartime pace and support both UK and Ukrainian security,” he said.

Britain to manufacture at scale under new defense strategy

The UK-Ukraine agreement enables sharing of intellectual property and co-development of defense systems. It follows Starmer’s summer meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Healey’s recent visit to Kyiv, where the partnership was expanded.

The UK sees this effort as part of its broader “Plan for Change,” which links national security with economic development through industrial growth and job creation.

Drone production surge and funding spike

The drone deal is part of a wider plan to massively expand drone support for Ukraine. In March, the UK Prime Minister announced a £1.6 billion ($2.16 billion) package to deliver over 5,000 air defense missiles, creating 200 jobs and supporting 700 more.

The UK will also invest £350 million ($470 million) this year to ramp up drone production for Ukraine, aiming to deliver 100,000 drones in 2025—up from 10,000 in 2024. Total UK military aid to Ukraine for 2025 will hit £4.5 billion ($6 billion), the highest annual sum to date.

The Washington Post’s Editorial Board correctly identifies sending nineteen Gerbera drones into Polish airspace as a calculated test of alliance credibility.

However, their proposed response exposes a deeper problem: solutions remain dangerously inadequate even when America’s foreign policy establishment grasps the threat.

Putin moves from Ukraine conflict to testing NATO

For a newspaper warning that “ambiguity telegraphs weakness,” this seems remarkably restrained.

Why Washington’s weak response matters globally

However, this gap matters globally. Very much so.

Putin reads this disconnect perfectly—establishment analysis shows awareness, but policy recommendations show continued caution.

The specific incident proves the pattern. While Trump responded with a dismissive social media post—“What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!”—Moscow demonstrated it can probe NATO territory and expect limited responses.

The Washington Post warns that alliance guarantees are “ultimately just a promise written on paper,” yet Putin’s calculation appears correct—each escalation meets academic analysis rather than decisive action.

Romania is accelerating the revival of its defense industry with American and German support, prioritizing the domestic production of drones, explosives, and gunpowder, Radio Free Europe Romania reports.

The move comes as the country consolidates its role as a key NATO hub on the Alliance’s eastern flank and a critical logistics lifeline for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.

Brașov to become drone and explosives hub

In spring, Romania’s Ministry of Economy announced that the Transylvanian city of Brașov would host new facilities for the production of drones, explosives, and ammunition.

The local Carfil military plant is expected to produce drones using components supplied by American defense company Periscope Aviation.

“This is not a simple acquisition; it is a complete technology transfer, meant to build an indigenous industrial capacity in Romania — a long-term strategic objective for many NATO member states that want to reduce their dependence on imports and strengthen their defense industrial base,” stressed Economy Minister Bogdan Ivan.

Mr. Ivan also confirmed that drone production is scheduled to begin this summer, with an annual target of approximately 3,500 units.

“We are beneficiaries of the European SAFE Mechanism, financed by the European Commission with up to €150 billion. We have submitted Romania’s production capacities for the next ten years, along with proposals on how we can evolve, what we can build, and where we can be competitive,” Ivan said in an interview with Digi24.

Rheinmetall invests €400 million in gunpowder

At the same time, Germany’s Rheinmetall defense conglomerate is building in Brașov what will be the largest military gunpowder factory in Europe, with an investment of €400 million.

Romania’s leadership has emphasized that domestic production of gunpowder is a top priority, as the country currently imports it from Serbia, where much of the supply originates in Russia.

“This is essential for Romania’s security and independence,” said former Economy Minister Radu Oprea, underlining the need to reduce reliance on foreign sources.

Last year, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also declared that Romania would soon host the “most modern gunpowder plant in Europe.”

Broader industrial revival

The new projects in Brașov are part of a broader national strategy to revitalize Romania’s defense industry. German investments are also reinforcing the Mediaș plant, which is set to expand production of military vehicles.

In Satu Mare, plans are underway to launch production of Leopard tanks, further strengthening Romania’s heavy weapons capabilities.

These initiatives align with NATO’s push to ramp up production capacities across Europe in response to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Romania’s geographical position and existing infrastructure make it a frontline state in both logistics and industrial support for Kyiv.

Photo: Rheinmetall Automecanica SRL plant in Mediaș, Romania. May, 2024. Romania. Frame from the Nova Tv Medias video channel

Continuing tradition

Since the 1990s, Romania has cultivated increasingly close ties with major foreign defense companies.

Israel’s Elbit Systems was the first, establishing a joint venture with Aerostar Bacău in 1997 to modernize the Romanian MiG-21 fleet to the LanceR standard. The company also operates a local branch, Elmet International SRL, which produces avionics and drone technology.

Partnerships with US companies such as General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon Technologies have resulted in:

• creating an F-16 maintenance center
• the production of Patriot system components
• an assembly and production line for Piranha V armored personnel carriers in Romania.

Meanwhile, France’s Airbus, Naval Group, and Thales have supplied military communication systems, taken over and modernized the Ghimbav aircraft components factory, and entered into partnerships with the Constanța Naval Shipyard.

In addition, Poland’s PGZ has signalled interest in competing with its Borsuk model in the upcoming tender for Romania’s new infantry fighting vehicles.

Bayraktar drones stand lined up at a production facility in Brasov, which received massive investments from Airbus in 2024. Photo: Profimedia Images, Hotnews

Strategic significance for NATO and Ukraine

Romania is boosting its defense sector under the new 2024–2030 National Defense Industry Strategy, raising military spending above 2% of GDP and prioritizing advanced technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and drones.

The plan focuses on:

• joint UAV production with Ukraine
• potential submarine manufacturing
• modernization of naval forces,
• fostering research and development, NATO–EU cooperation, and public–private partnerships to strengthen national security and position Romania as a competitive global defense producer.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Romania has re-examined its security posture as a direct neighbor of the war zone. Hosting vital NATO facilities and serving as a transit hub for military aid, Romania has become indispensable to both Ukraine’s defense and NATO’s deterrence strategy.

A Russian drone landed on the grounds of a Polish territorial defense base near Warsaw on 10 September, RMF24 reports. The incident occurred during a wave of at least 19 drones, flying in from Belarus and Ukraine, that violated Polish airspace overnight. No injuries or damage were reported. 16 16 UAVs were later recovered across Poland

Russian drone crash at Polish base

RMF24 confirmed that one of the drones fell on the territory of a Polish Territorial Defense Forces unit in Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą, located in Grójec County, not far from Warsaw. The drone was an unarmed Gerbera-type UAV and did not cause any structural damage, according to the report. This is the first confirmed case of a Russian drone landing within a military facility in Poland, a NATO member state. 

16 drones found across Poland in one night

Polish authorities confirmed 19 Russian drones violated airspace on 10 September, with 16 later found on Polish territory. Most of them came down in rural or uninhabited areas across multiple voivodeships, including Lublin, Świętokrzyskie, and Warmia-Masuria. Some damaged farm buildings or landed near homes, but no casualties were reported.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Sejm that 19 airspace violations were registered during the night. He emphasized that, for the first time, the attack originated not from Ukrainian airspace but from Belarus.

During the attack, Ukrainian airspace monitoring channels reported Russian drone movements to Poland via both Ukraine and Belarus, and later stated that some Russian drones returned from Poland to Ukraine.

Explore further

NATO jets shoot down Russian drones in Poland—but NATO believes it’s not an attack

Investigations continue at crash sites

In Cześniki, near Zamość, a drone was shot down by Polish air defense forces. Prosecutors confirmed that “Cyrillic” inscriptions were found on one of the drone’s components. Nearby, 30 drone fragments were collected, including parts made from foam-like materials and plywood.

Elsewhere, another drone landed on a residential home in Wyryki Wola in Lublin Voivodeship, damaging the roof and a car. No injuries occurred, as the elderly couple living there were tending to animals outside at the time, RMF24 says.

Explore further

Russian drone crashes into residential building in Poland

In his 10 September evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a united, coordinated air defense strategy to protect Europe’s skies, warning that Russia’s escalating drone warfare now targets not only Ukraine but NATO territory itself.

Ukraine proposes joint air defense as Russia tests NATO skies

Zelenskyy said more than 400 Russian drones—mostly Shahed explosive UAVs—and over 40 missiles struck Ukraine the previous night. Most were intercepted, but damage was still inflicted across multiple oblasts, including hits on residential homes and infrastructure.

According to him, Ukrainian forces began tracking drone movements from 1 a.m. on 10 September, as they crossed into Polish airspace from both Ukrainian and Belarusian directions.

“This movement was not an accident or a mistake – it was deliberate,” he said. “Almost two dozen drones entered Poland, and it seems that less than half of the total number came from the Ukrainian side,” he added, implying that the rest flew in from Belarus, Russia’s ally.

Calling it a “calculated Russian activity,” Zelenskyy warned that the incursion was designed to probe allied red lines:

“The Russians are testing the limits of what is possible. They are testing reactions. They are watching closely how NATO armed forces act.”

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NATO’s boiled frog moment: 19 drones, zero consequences

Kyiv offers tech, training, and intelligence to shield Europe

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had offered Poland support in responding to the drone breach.

“We are ready to assist with technology, crew training, and the necessary intelligence.” He stressed that only united European forces can offer real protection. “Ukraine proposes to defend airspace in a coordinated, thoughtful and joint manner. We have presented to our partners how this can be achieved.”

He stated that the proposal includes clear mechanisms to stop Russia’s escalation and prevent the war from expanding.

“The details are clear – how to prevent the war from expanding and how to stop Russia’s escalatory steps.”

He also announced upcoming defense meetings between Ukrainian and Polish defense officials.

“I instructed our military to present all the experience we have in countering drones,” Zelenskyy said.

Kremlin uses Belarus, drones, and disinfo to destabilize

Zelenskyy said Russia’s joint drills with Belarus, Zapad 2025, starting on 12 September, could be linked to this latest escalation.

“Joint Russian–Belarusian exercises have now begun on Belarusian territory. And this may well be part of their ‘training plan’, so to speak.”

Explore further

NATO jets shoot down Russian drones in Poland—but NATO believes it’s not an attack

He added that Moscow was simultaneously conducting a disinformation campaign aimed at sowing division between Poland and Ukraine.

“We see how the Russians are trying to humiliate Poland.”

He warned that the number of drones entering NATO airspace could grow if the alliance continues to respond passively.

“No one can guarantee that there won’t be hundreds of drones if there are already dozens.”

Strength is the only language Russia understands

Zelenskyy emphasized that only force will make Moscow reconsider its strategy.

“Russia only listens to strength and takes only the strong into account.”

He urged Ukraine’s allies, especially the United States, to respond with action, not just statements.

“We are very much counting on a strong response from the United States.”

Kyiv extends a helping hand to Poland. Ukraine has offered Warsaw the necessary assistance in countering Russian drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.

The attack occurred just as Western leaders, including the US, continue working on security guarantees for Ukraine, aimed at protecting the country from Russian strikes, including drone attacks.

Ukraine without modern aviation — but with results

Ukraine does not possess modern fighter jets, yet during the same time frame, it managed to shoot down 380 out of 415 drones launched by Russia.

The question remains: how to force Russia to end the war against Ukraine and stop attacking NATO countries?

“No one can guarantee that there won’t be hundreds of drones if there are already dozens. Only joint European forces can provide real protection. We are ready to help with technology, crew training, and the necessary intelligence,” Zelenskyy stressed.

Dangerous “Zapad-2025” drills

According to Zelenskyy, joint Russian-Belarusian exercises “Zapad-2025” have begun on Belarusian territory, and the attack on Poland may be part of this training scenario.

The program of the drills reportedly includes a rehearsal of an attack on Poland and even the simulation of a nuclear strike.

Despite the attack on a NATO member state, US President Donald Trump did not announce any new sanctions against Moscow or present a clear plan to counter Russia.

“Unfortunately, as of now, Russia has not received a tough response from global leaders to what it is doing,” Zelenskyy said.

According to him, with this attack, Russia is testing the limits of what is possible and probing the West’s reaction.

“They are recording how NATO armed forces act, what they can do and what they cannot do yet,” the Ukrainian president added.

Kyiv warned Poland about the Russian drone threat before the attack occurred. On the night of 10 September, nearly two dozen Russian drones may have entered Polish airspace, although this figure is not final, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

This incident marked the first time since Russian drones massively violated the territory of a NATO member state and prompted the country to down them with strategic aviation. 

“Ukrainian forces informed the Polish side through the appropriate channels about the movement of Russian drones. Around 00:50 Kyiv time, the first crossing of the Ukrainian-Polish border by a Russian drone was recorded,” the Ukrainian president noted.

At least two drones that entered Poland used Belarusian airspace. Meanwhile, dozens of other drones moved along the Ukraine-Belarus border and in western regions of Ukraine, approaching Ukrainian and potentially Polish targets.

Ukrainian air defenses in action

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukrainian defenders destroyed more than 380 Russian drones of various types, including at least 250 Shaheds.

“The number of Russian drones that crossed into Polish territory and penetrated deeply may be higher than previously reported. We are checking,” the Ukrainian president said. 

Ukrainian forces continue to analyze debris to clarify drone types. The president stressed that only joint and coordinated action with allies can ensure reliable airspace protection.

NATO and regional security

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense denied involvement in the attack.

The incident prompted Poland to appeal to NATO, which activated Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. This allows consultations regarding threats to territorial integrity and security, but does not automatically trigger a military response as Article 5 does. Polish F-16s and F-35s were scrambled to intercept drones, though most threats were neutralized by Ukrainian air defenses.

The attack happened in the midst of discussions by European and American allies on security guarantees for Ukraine. 

Intelligence insights

Joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises, “Zapad-2025,” are currently underway in Belarus, with the active phase planned for 12–16 September. During these exercises, scenarios include simulated attacks on Poland and nuclear weapons deployment, UkrInform reports. 

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, stated that the active phase will involve serious information pressure, accompanied by staged leaks and information provocations.

NATO is not treating Russia’s deliberate drone incursion into Polish territory as an attack, a NATO source told Reuters. This unprecedented revelation comes after a large overnight operation involving both Polish and NATO aircraft to intercept incoming Russian drones.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 415 drones and 43 missiles in total during the overnight assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says at least eight Shahed explosive drones were “aimed toward Poland.” Calling it “an extremely dangerous precedent for Europe,” he urged a strong, united response from Ukraine’s partners in Europe and the United States.

Ukrainian airspace monitoring channels reported that some of the Russian drones that initially entered Poland later returned to Ukraine.

NATO downplays Russia’s deliberate drone strike on Poland

Despite clear indications of intent, NATO is not treating the airspace violation as an act of aggression, a source within the Alliance told Reuters. The source added that initial indications suggested an intentional incursion of six to ten Russian drones overnight on 10 September. NATO radars tracked the drones, and a coordinated operation involving Polish F-16s, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS surveillance planes, and mid-air refueling aircraft was launched.

“It was the first time NATO aircraft have engaged potential threats in allied airspace,” the source said.

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Poland shoots down Russian drones, closes 4 airports in “unprecedented” border violation

European leaders condemn Russia and express solidarity with Poland

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the drone strikes as “a reckless and unprecedented violation of Poland and Europe’s airspace.” Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she declared full European solidarity with Poland and announced a new Qualitative Military Edge program to boost Ukrainian defense capabilities.

French President Emmanuel Macron labeled the airspace breach “simply unacceptable.” In a post on X, he promised to raise the issue with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, stating, “We will not compromise on the security of the Allies.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Russia’s drone attack “extremely reckless” and said it highlighted “Putin’s blatant disregard for peace.” He confirmed direct communication with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and thanked NATO and Polish forces for their swift response.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that early indications suggested the drone entries into Polish territory were intentional.

Poland details the scale of airspace violation and defensive actions

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said 19 drones entered Polish airspace overnight, with many of those flying in from Belarus. According to Tusk, four were probably shot down, with the last interception occurring at 6:45 a.m. Poland’s military command stated that more than 10 drones had been tracked and that those posing a threat were neutralized.

The military described the repeated violations as “an act of aggression.” Airports in Warsaw, Lublin, and two other cities were closed during the threat. Polish authorities urged residents in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions to remain indoors. NATO air command and Dutch F-35s provided assistance throughout the operation.

Czechia and Lithuania express alarm, call out Russian provocation

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the incident was “a test of the defense capabilities of NATO countries.” He called it deliberate and said Putin’s regime “systematically probes how far it can go.” Fiala reaffirmed Czech solidarity with Poland and warned against voices downplaying Russia’s aggression.

Lithuanian foreign minister Kestutis Budrys, however, told Reuters that there was no confirmed evidence yet that the drone strike was intentional. However, he stressed that Russia remains responsible for keeping its drones out of NATO territory.

Belarus and Moscow close ranks and deny responsibility

Russia and Belarus, longtime anti-Ukrainian allies, dismissed the accusations. Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Poland, Andrey Ordash, was summoned by the Polish foreign ministry. He told Russia’s RIA state news agency, “We see the accusations as groundless,” claiming Poland had presented no evidence linking the Russian drones to Russia.

Belarusian Chief of the General Staff Major General Pavel Muraveiko attempted to shift blame for Russia’s deliberate attack on Poland toward Ukraine. He claimed Belarus had allegedly shot down drones that had strayed into its airspace due to Ukrainian electronic interference. Without specifying their origin, he claimed that both Poland and Lithuania had been warned about the drones’ approach.

Polish publications Polsat News and RMF24 report that a drone with “Cyrillic” inscriptions crashed on Polish territory near the Belarusian border on the evening of 7 September. The incident occurred close to Poland’s border crossing in Terespol, raising new alarms about Russian drone incursions linked to its war in Ukraine.

The drone was likely one of the 605 explosive and decoy drones Russia launched at Ukraine on 7 September—if it indeed crashed that night and wasn’t linked to an earlier incursion undetected by Polish authorities.

A drone with “Cyrillic” writing falls near Polish homes

The drone fell around 300 meters from the Polish border checkpoint in the village of Polatycze, in Lublin Voivodeship, according to the local prosecutor’s office. The nearest residential buildings were just 500 meters from the crash site, Polsat reported, citing the prosecutor’s office. Authorities confirmed that the object did not explode upon impact, but that fuel ignited after the crash. RMF24 says no one was injured.

Agnieszka Kępka, spokesperson for the Lublin District Prosecutor’s Office, stated that border guards discovered the drone wreckage at approximately 19:50 the next day. They have already been questioned as witnesses. A civilian later reported hearing the sound of the drone.

The drone had “Cyrillic” text on its components and numeric markings on others. It appeared to be made of lightweight styrofoam-like material. Investigators are now cataloging every fragment on-site before the debris is transferred for forensic analysis.

Military prosecutors take over case amid Gerbera drone suspicion

The military department of the Lublin District Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation in cooperation with the Military Police. Authorities secured 12 major components and hundreds of smaller parts, many made of styrofoam. While investigators say the drone was likely unarmed, its material and structure resemble Russian-made Gerbera drones, capable of carrying explosive devices. 

No details have been released about whether a Polish military radar tracked the drone. RMF24 reports that prosecutors do not yet know the time or direction of its entry into Polish airspace. The visible impact mark in the field allowed officials to pinpoint the crash site, which lies in a cornfield near Terespol. Military investigators are expected to assess the drone’s model and origin.

Biała Podlaska police confirmed receiving a report from the local border guard station just before 22:00, not mentioning 7 September as the crash date. Officers secured the crash site and alerted all relevant agencies, including the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Biała Podlaska. Authorities reiterated that no residents were harmed and that the wreckage poses no immediate threat.

On 7 September, a different unmanned aerial vehicle fell in the village of Majdan-Sielec, near Zamość. Investigators from the Zamość District Prosecutor’s Office said it likely crashed due to fuel exhaustion.

According to RMF24, the landowner where the first drone crashed noted the presence of what looked like a camera module. Authorities confirmed the device was being analyzed by forensic experts.

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Russian drone crosses NATO border and flies freely—Poland responds with radar alerts but no action again

Ukrainian airspace monitoring channels on Telegram reported on 7 September that a Russian drone had crossed Ukraine’s Volyn and was headed toward Zamość, a Polish city located 150 km south of the crash site.

Moscow relies on its allies, when it comes to sustaining its drone program. Russia continues to ramp up production of long-range drones, partly due to support from China, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports. 

“Russia is increasingly relying on the PRC for its drone components and would not be able to sustain the pace or mass of its Shahed-type drone production without these components,” experts note.

China as a key supplier

The experts also drew attention to a recent investigation by the Ukrainian organization Frontelligence Insight, which revealed that the Russian Alabuga facility alone depends on China for at least 41 components in producing long-range strike drones.

These include engines, electronic and mechanical parts, batteries, antennas, radios, carbon fuel units, carburetors, and telecommunication components.

Assembly, not production

Frontelligence Insight assesses that many drones Russia claims to produce domestically are in fact only assembled there, given the large share of Chinese-made parts used in their construction.

Experts state that Russia has significantly expanded domestic Shahed-type drone production, including the “Geran,” “Harpia,” and “Herbera” variants.

Production is centered in the Republic of Tatarstan, with a new production line recently launched at the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant, where “Harpia” drones (Shahed analogues with PRC components) are also assembled.

Russia has made major investments in expanding the Alabuga drone plant, supporting its infrastructure, and recruiting women, children, and foreign workers for its operations.

Additionally, Russia has opened a special logistics hub at this plant to receive and process freight trains directly from China, likely aimed at streamlining the delivery of Chinese components for drone production in the special economic zone.

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Ukraine builds its own smart munitions for drones

Crimea drone war enters new phase

Russia conducted another large-scale aerial attack on Ukraine during the night of 8 September, deploying 142 strike drones across multiple regions and damaging civilian infrastructure and energy systems.

The attacks on 8 September involved Shahed-type drones, “Gerbera” drones, and other unmanned aircraft launched from four separate directions. Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted 112 of the attacking drones, according to the Air Force Command.

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Russia targets Ukraine’s energy sites

Russian drones specifically targeted Ukraine’s energy sector, with one thermal generation facility in Kyiv Oblast coming under what the Ministry of Energy described as “massive Russian shelling.”

The ministry stated that the attack aimed to “cause even more difficulties for the peaceful population of Ukraine, to leave Ukrainian homes, hospitals, kindergartens and schools without light and heat.”

The Ministry of Energy emphasized that generation facilities, electricity transmission and distribution systems, and gas infrastructure are civilian rather than military targets. 

Damage from Russian strikes in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk areas

In Kyiv Oblast, the attacks resulted in a fire at an industrial enterprise, which rescue teams successfully extinguished without casualties. Blast waves also damaged a shopping center and fitness club in the vicinity.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine experienced separate attacks on Pokrovska, Mezhivska, and Bohdanivska communities. The strikes ignited fires at a fire protection administrative building, a kitchen and an outbuilding at a private residence, the State Emergency Service reported. No casualties were recorded in these incidents.

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Ukrspecsystems is expanding operations into the United Kingdom, launching a new military drone production factory and training site. The company, which produces eight types of drones for military and civilian use, said production at the UK site will start in 2026. 

Norwich Evening News reports that the company will build an 11,000 m² factory in Mildenhall, a small town in eastern England, part of the Suffolk county, along with a testing and training center in Elmsett about 70 km away, creating hundreds of jobs and apprenticeships. The total investment will reach £200 million (approximately $250 million) over the next three years.

According to Ukrspecsystems, the drones will not only be built and tested in Britain, but operators will also be trained in tactics rooted in Ukraine’s battlefield experience.

“Ukrspecsystems is proud to be the first Ukrainian company to commit to a funded plan to invest in infrastructure, jobs and skills in the UK,” said Rory Chamberlain, the UK managing director for Ukrspecsystems. “Our factory at Mildenhall and flight test and training facility at Elmsett are testament to this commitment.”

Targeting laid-off workers from the UK’s collapsing auto industry

The plant’s opening comes as 550 workers at the Lotus sports car plant in Hethel, also in eastern England, face redundancy. Ukrspecsystems has expressed interest in hiring from this experienced engineering pool, and local authorities have welcomed the opportunity to redirect skilled workers into defense technology roles.

The support package includes help with job placement, financial and mental health support, and small business assistance. Job seekers will be connected with engineering vacancies, including those at the new drone plant, and offered free retraining courses. Pop-up outreach vehicles will be deployed to the Lotus site and a space reserved at the Hethel Engineering Centre.

Ukrspecsystems drones are not only of interest to the UK. In April 2025, a Shark reconnaissance drone produced by the company was spotted during testing in the Czech Republic, suggesting broader European cooperation and growing demand for Ukrainian-developed battlefield technologies.

Russia continues to amass large numbers of strike drones for coordinated attacks on Ukraine, with recent assaults involving hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles at once, Ukrainian defense news portal Defense Express reports.

Such large-scale attacks strain Ukraine’s air defenses. Even though many drones are intercepted, those that get through still inflict damage and cause civilian casualties.

Over the night of 6-7 September, Ukraine faced the largest drone attack of the full-scale war. Russian forces launched 810 Shahed attack drones, alongside multiple decoy and imitation UAVs. The assault also included nine Iskander-K cruise missiles and four Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles.

Ukraine’s defenses intercepted 747 drones and four cruise missiles. Despite this, nine missiles and 54 strike drones hit 33 locations across the country, with debris recorded at eight additional sites.

This strike follows a string of large-scale attacks. On 2-3 September, Russian forces launched 502 drones; on 29-30 August, 537; and on 27-28 August, 598.

In July and August, raids consistently involved over 500 drones, a sharp increase from previous periods when Russia typically deployed a few hundred.

Earlier in August and July, the aerial assaults consistently involved over 500 drones, a significant increase from prior periods when Russia typically launched no more than a few hundred.

Defense Express notes it is unclear whether these waves reflect higher production or a deliberate tactic to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses with concentrated “salvo” attacks. The mix of Shaheds versus decoy and imitation drones also remains unknown.

According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia’s defense industry currently produces roughly 2,700 Shahed drones per month, allowing Moscow to sustain repeated large-scale strikes.

Ukrainian military news site Militarnyi reports that during the night of Russia’s largest drone attack on Ukraine, a Russian drone crossed into Poland and vanished. Polish forces tracked the incursion, but again failed to stop it.

Drone flew into Poland during massive Russian strike on Ukraine

Militarnyi says that overnight on 6–7 September, Russia launched its most extensive combined drone and missile attack on Ukrainian territory. During that assault, at around 01:13, one of the Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace from northwestern Ukraine’s Volyn Oblast. The drone continued flying on a course toward the city of Zamość in Poland’s Lublin Voivodeship.

According to Militarnyi, which cited analysis from Ukrainian monitoring groups and official statements from Poland’s Operational Command of the Armed Forces, the drone was detected inside Polish territory. It remained there for at least thirty minutes before disappearing from tracking channels. There was no confirmation about where it crashed or whether it continued flying.

Polish aircraft scrambled, radar systems on alert

At around 01:41, several monitoring channels reported activity from Polish fighter jets in the same area where the drone had been observed.

By 02:06, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces posted a statement on X confirming that Polish and allied aircraft were operating in national airspace.

The statement added that air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were at “the highest level of readiness.” It stressed the “preventive” nature of the actions and claimed the goal was to secure Polish airspace and protect citizens, especially near the border.

Later that night, the Polish military reiterated that it was “monitoring the current situation” and that its forces remained ready to respond immediately.

Drone vanishes after extended flight inside NATO airspace

By around 05:00, Polish and allied aircraft completed their operations over Poland. The military said the actions ended due to the cessation of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. No additional updates about the drone’s location or status were released. The last known reports placed it several dozen kilometers inside Polish airspace, where it had remained for over half an hour.

Polish authorities did not report any recovery of debris. There were no indications that the drone was shot down or forced to land. The incident ended without confirmation of what happened to the drone after it disappeared from radars.

Not the first time a Russian drone entered Poland

This is not the first time a Russian drone violated Polish airspace and continued flying for an extended time. In late August, a Russian Shahed drone flew over Poland for approximately two and a half hours before crashing. Militarnyi reported that the straight-line distance from the entry point to the crash site in the village of Osiny was around 200 km.

At the beginning of September, another drone incident occurred. A Gerbera decoy drone fell in a field near the village of Majdan Sielce in Lublin Voivodeship, about 50 km from the Ukrainian border. Polish officials denied that it had “any military characteristics,” whatever it means.

Ukraine’s government headquarters in central Kyiv was struck overnight by Russian missiles and drones, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Thursday. The building, used daily by government staff, sustained structural damage, but no one inside was harmed.

Svyrydenko called the attack an example of “Russian barbarism” and urged the international community to turn outrage into concrete support for Ukraine.

“The walls will be repaired, they are only bricks, but the lives of our people can’t be restored,” Svyrydenko said on X.

As of 5:00 p.m. on 7 August, four people have been reported killed in Kyiv following the strikes.

For the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the roof and upper floors of the government building were damaged. Firefighters worked through the night to put out the flames.

Svyrydenko emphasized that only a united international response, including increased air defense systems and sanctions pressure on Moscow, can protect Ukrainian communities and help bring an end to Russian aggression.

Overnight on 6-7 August, Russia carried out one of the largest aerial assaults on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, deploying over 800 drones – a record number – alongside cruise missiles. 

The attacks struck multiple cities, including Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, and Odesa.

In the early hours of 7 September, Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine, using over 800 drones and several missiles to strike more than a dozen locations. Despite a major interception effort by Ukrainian air defense, dozens of Russia’s explosive drones and missiles reached their targets, killing civilians, injuring scores, and damaging infrastructure across multiple oblasts.

Kyiv: fires and civilian deaths

Kyiv was among the hardest-hit cities last night and this morning. Two people were confirmed killed, including an infant whose body was pulled from rubble, and more than 20 others were injured.

One woman died while sheltering in a basement in Darnytskyi District. The Kyiv Military Administration reported significant fire damage in the Pecherskyi District after a government building was hit by drone debris. The Cabinet of Ministers building caught fire after a strike.

In Sviatoshynskyi District, two nine-story apartment buildings ignited, and the top floor of a sixteen-story residential building was also engulfed in flames.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said that in Sviatoshynskyi District, a fire broke out in a nine-story residential building as a result of the Russian attack, causing partial destruction between the fourth and eighth floors.

“Unfortunately, two people were killed at this location — a woman and her two-month-old child. It is likely that more people remain trapped under the rubble. Over 20 others were injured,” Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko added.

Later that morning, Klitschko said authorities were still searching for the body of a third suspected victim under the ruins.

The city recorded more than 10 damaged sites. Over 400 emergency workers and nearly 100 vehicles, including helicopters, were deployed to respond, according to Klymenko.

Odesa: residential and civil infrastructure hit

In Odesa and the Odesa district, drone strikes caused multiple fires in residential buildings and critical infrastructure.

According to the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, three people were injured: a 73-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman were hospitalized, and a 36-year-old man received treatment on site.

The Russian attack damaged a nine-story building, with fires on the upper floors. Firefighters also responded to blazes in warehouse facilities and vehicles. The local Palace of Sports sustained damage.

The air raid alert began at 22:34 on 6 September, with explosions reported starting at 04:08. The all-clear was given at 05:33.

Zaporizhzhia: kindergarten destroyed, civilians injured

On 6 September, Russian drones struck Zaporizhzhia, heavily damaging a kindergarten, where 80% of the building was destroyed. The Russian attack injured a total of 17 civilians, according to local authorities. Sixteen apartment buildings and twelve one-family houses suffered damage.

Fires erupted in residential areas, a critical infrastructure site was reportedly struck, and explosions damaged roofs, balconies, and windows.

One person was rescued from under debris. The regional prosecutor reported Russia’s use of Shahed-type drones, and a criminal investigation was launched.

By today, emergency operations had shifted from rescue to recovery.

Zaporizhzhia’s Novopavlivka: Russian air strike killed married couple

On 7 September, a Russian airstrike targeted Novopavlivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Two people — a married couple — were killed. The woman died immediately; her husband’s body was later pulled from the rubble by rescue workers. Several homes were destroyed, according to local authorities.

Kryvyi Rih: missiles hit homes and infrastructure

At least two waves of Russian missiles targeted Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during the Russian attack overnight on 7 September. The strikes injured three men, one of whom is in serious condition.

The city’s defense council head, Oleksandr Vilkul, said missiles struck transportation infrastructure, industrial sites, private homes, and high-rise buildings. Fires were reported at multiple sites. Public transit was partially disrupted.

A second missile strike later in the morning caused further damage and triggered a fire. Emergency response teams and civil infrastructure repair crews were deployed. 

Poltava Oblast: bridge damaged, train routes changed

In Poltava Oblast, Russia strikes hit infrastructure in Kremenchuk and Poltava districts. A detached home, a business, and the Dnipro bridge in Kremenchuk were damaged. Though the authorities reported no casualties, the bridge was closed to traffic. Poltava district authorities confirmed a municipal building was also hit.

Mayor Vitalii Maletskyi said the bridge is managed by Ukrzaliznytsia railway company, and structural assessments are underway. Due to damage, Ukrzaliznytsia altered a few train routes, and passengers are transported to Kremenchuk by bus. Two local electric trains were canceled for 7 September.

Sumy Oblast: woman killed in tent camp, child among injured

In the evening of 6 September, a Russian drone struck a tent camp near the town of Putyvl in Sumy Oblast. The attack killed a 51-year-old woman by shrapnel before medical help arrived. Eight others were injured, including an 8-year-old boy and both his parents. According to Putyvl mayor Kostiantyn Havrylchuk, most of the injuries were minor. The Sumy Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported the attack occurred around 21:40.

In a separate incident in the Krasnopilska community, a 57-year-old man was hospitalized after a Russian drone struck his vehicle.

Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson oblasts: ongoing civilian toll

Russian shelling and air attacks continued across Kharkiv Oblast, where one civilian was killed and six were injured in 14 separate locations over the past 24 hours, according to oblast head Oleh Syniehubov.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces killed two people — in Drobysheve and Hryshyne — and injured nine more, as reported by oblast head Vadym Filashkin.

In Kherson Oblast, two civilians were reported injured over the previous 24 hours, according to local authorities. Later in the morning of 7 September, Russian artillery struck Kherson’s Central District, injuring a 73-year-old woman with shrapnel wounds and a blast injury, the oblast administration added.

Nationwide defense and aftermath

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia launched 805 Shahed drones, nine Iskander-K cruise missiles, and four ballistic missiles overnight. Ukraine’s air defense downed or suppressed 751 aerial targets, including 747 drones and four cruise missiles. Nevertheless, 56 drones and nine missiles struck 37 locations. Debris from downed drones caused secondary fires and destruction in at least eight other locations.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the Russian attack, calling it a “conscious crime” and urging the international community to implement previously promised sanctions and accelerate the delivery of air defense systems.

“These killings, at a time when real diplomacy could already be underway, are deliberate,” he said.

He confirmed that in Kyiv alone, two people had been killed and dozens injured, including a child, and emphasized that political will was all that was needed to stop further bloodshed.

“We also expect full implementation of all agreements aimed at strengthening our air defense. Every additional system saves civilians from these vile attacks,” Zelenskyy added.

Russia has reached monthly production capacity of 2,700 Shahed-type drones, according to Andriy Yusov, representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, in an interview with Novyny.LIVE.

The intelligence official specified that Russia manufactures “Geran-2” drones, which are modified versions of standard Shaheds equipped with warheads. Most production takes place at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Yelabuga, Republic of Tatarstan, Yusov reported.

Despite this production volume, Russia cannot deploy thousands of drones daily. “They cannot physically launch such quantities toward the country every day. But we see these hundreds of Shaheds and combined missile-drone strikes they carry out – these are truly massive attacks. This is a serious challenge for our air defense and anti-missile defense forces,” Yusov said.

The intelligence representative addressed claims by military radio technology specialist Serhiy Flesh that Russian forces launch Shaheds equipped with cameras and radio control systems. According to Yusov, such modifications remain experimental.

“They can modify something, but going from such limited quantities to mass production is also a certain path. Therefore, they try different means. How much they will be able to put them into full mass production depends, among other things, on access to foreign components and many other factors,” he explained.

Previous intelligence reports indicate Russia’s broader drone ambitions. In September, Ukrainian intelligence disclosed Russia’s current stockpile of “Grom-1” hybrid missiles and annual production plans. On 21 August, LIGA.net reported that Russia plans to manufacture 4,000 turbojet drones by the end of 2025, according to intelligence sources.

The US is ready to create a buffer zone in Ukraine to contain Russia, but it is unclear whether Putin will stop the war. If a peace agreement is reached, the US plans to take a leading role in monitoring a large demilitarized buffer zone on Ukrainian territory, NBC News reports. 

It would separate the Russian and Ukrainian areas after the fighting ends. The US drones, satellites, and other intelligence tools would help ensure security compliance, while American troops would not be deployed within the zone.

International oversight and security

Troops from one or more non-NATO countries, such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh, could secure the buffer zone.

Meanwhile, Turkiye would be responsible for the safe movement of goods and services in the Black Sea, controlling the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. Previously, Turkiye attempted to ensure the safety of the maritime corridor for exporting Ukrainian grain. However, Russia continued its strikes on Ukraine’s Odesa port anyway. 

Security guarantees and economic protection

Some security guarantees from allies are planned to be based on the plan, which avoids the use of NATO forces and Article V to avoid crossing Russia’s “red line.”

Additionally, bilateral agreements between Ukraine and its allies would provide security and economic support. The US is discussing with Ukraine a deal worth around $100 billion, which would include weapons supplies and the exchange of intellectual property rights for Ukrainian developments as part of security guarantees. 

Still, it is not clear how Kyiv will get back Ukrainian children stolen by Russia and how the issue of war reparations will be solved. 

Ukraine has already redefined modern warfare with Operation Spiderweb. In the course of the mission, Kyiv used drone swarms, surprisingly unleashed from trucks in Russia, to destroy its aircraft. Now, it has gone even further in its technological developments. 

In Donetsk Oblast, at an old Soviet warehouse, Ukrainian engineers are assembling ground-based unmanned systems. They deliver ammunition, food, and medical supplies, evacuate the wounded, and carry out assault operations, Forbes reports. 

Drones resilient to Russian jammers

Teams are upgrading standard drones with digital communication channels, such as Starlink and LTE, which allow them to bypass Russian electronic warfare systems.

“The conditions on the ground dictate their own rules, and we have to convert all drones to digital control,” explains engineer Oleksandr.

Also, fully robotic assaults have already been recorded on the Ukrainian front lines. The battle took place near the village of Lyptsi, north of Kharkiv, in 2024. During the clash, Russian positions were destroyed solely by unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and FPV drones.

A robot under fire instead of a soldier

Ground drones act as communication relays and even as platforms for electronic warfare.

“The drone drives up to a trench or dugout, releases the load, and leaves,” he adds.

Ukraine — a global leader in military robotics

According to Army Technology, up to 80% of Russian losses on the battlefield are now caused by drones. Russia is also developing its own systems, but Ukraine is ahead due to volunteer initiatives and decentralized solutions.

“Ukrainian engineers are creating the future of warfare, not just for Ukraine, but for the world,” emphasizes Liuba Shypovych, CEO of Dignitas Ukraine.

Warsaw acknowledged that two drones entered Polish airspace overnight on 2–3 September but were not intercepted or shot down, Reuters reported on 4 September. Polish military officials say the aerial objects posed no threat and exited the country without causing damage, even as Russia launched a major drone and missile assault across Ukraine the same night.

This occurred during Moscow’s daily air attack on Ukraine, as Russia launched more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles on Ukraine overnight. According to the reports, 14 locations across the country were hit, including critical energy and transport infrastructure. Four Ukrainian railway workers were injured in the attacks.

Poland confirms airspace violations but takes no action

According to Reuters, General Maciej Klisz, Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, confirmed at a news conference that “we had two airspace violations.” He claimed that “these two violations were under the full control of national forces and units assigned to the state defense system.”

General Wiesław Kukula, Chief of the General Staff, stated that the drones “left Polish airspace without causing any damage,” which means that Poland once again allowed the Russian drones to use its airspace than safely return to Ukraine to attack residential areas. 

The Polish army did not disclose the drones’ point of entry or flight path, and no effort was made to shoot them down.

The incursion occurred overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday — 2 and 3 September — triggering a National Security Council meeting in Warsaw.

Military stays silent as drones cross NATO border

The lack of any military response highlights Poland’s continued restraint, even after repeated airspace violations. Poland, a NATO member state and a vocal supporter of Ukraine in its defense against Russia, has yet to shoot down any drones entering its territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The army has remained on high alert since a stray Ukrainian missile struck a village in southern Poland in 2022, killing two people. Yet, despite increased vigilance, no interception measures were taken during this latest event.

In August, a drone crashed into a cornfield in eastern Poland. A prosecutor later said the drone likely entered Polish territory from the direction of Belarus, a close Russian ally. Ukrainian sources noted that the drone remained 2.5 hours in the Polish airspace and was never intercepted.

Airspace monitoring channels reported the incursion during the assault

Warnings about drones heading toward Poland were posted on 3 September by several Ukraine-linked Telegram channels tied to air defense monitoring.

At 3:36 a.m., Ukrainian Telegram channel Nikolaevsky Vanyok, affiliated with air defense forces, wrote:

“1 [Shahed drone is] south of Sambir, course to Poland.”

Almost simultaneously, at 3:35 a.m., the airspace monitoring Telegram channel Zakhid Holovne reported:

“ One more Shahed toward Kolomyia and one drone through Sambir to Poland.”

Four minutes later, at 3:39 a.m., the same channel posted in Polish:

“ 03:39 Air alert in the Republic of Poland.”

Chinese companies directly supplied at least €55 million worth of parts and materials to sanctioned Russian firms in 2023–2024. During this period, Moscow was actively building a large-scale logistics infrastructure for its drone program, The Telegraph reports.

Almost a quarter of the supplies, worth €12.5 million, went to companies involved in producing Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones in a Russian special economic zone in the city of Alabuga.

Among the goods exported from China were: aircraft engines, microchips, metal alloys, fiberglass, optics, and carbon fibers – all critical components for drone production.

Chinese neutrality only in words

Beijing publicly claims neutrality in the war, but the supply of drone parts reveals deep military cooperation with Moscow. On the battlefield, this is confirmed by the fact that Ukrainian troops regularly find Chinese components in downed Russian equipment.

“One has a very important interest in the survival of the other; this is not going to change. It’s a simple, geographic fact,” said Andrea Ghiselli, an expert on China’s foreign policy.

At the same time, unlike North Korea, China avoids direct participation in the war. Instead, it allows its companies to export dual-use goods. This has led to record trade volumes between the two countries – €246 billion in 2024.

Russia increases drone production

In just three months of 2023, the Chinese company Ningbo Peak Cloud Import and Export supplied Russia with aircraft engines worth €3.5 million for the Ural Civil Aviation Plant, which is under sanctions.

In total, The Telegraph identified 97 Chinese suppliers. At least five Russian firms, including the Ural Civil Aviation Plant, PT Electronic, and Radioline, directly use Chinese components in drone production.

As a result, in just the first half of 2024, Russia produced more than 2,000 “Harpy” drones, almost matching the total output of the entire previous year.

The company Mile Hao Xiang Technology also supplied engines for the “Gerbera” drone worth more than €1.5 million in 2022–2023, including through intermediaries. The main importers were Russian companies Sequoia JSC and Unikom LLC.

The real volume of supplies may be much higher than official statistics show.

Ukraine’s state defense group Ukroboronprom has revealed the specifications of its updated “Palianytsia” kamikaze drone at the MSPO international defense exhibition in Kielce, Poland, according to Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi.

The upgraded drone gives Ukraine a long-range, domestically produced option for striking stationary land and naval targets deep inside Russian territory. It was developed in response to restrictions on the use of Western long-range missiles and reflects ongoing efforts to scale production and reduce costs.

The Palianytsia is not a new weapon – Ukraine first unveiled it in 2024, and it has already seen combat. Ukrainian officials say it was created out of urgent necessity, while its cost-effective design offers a long-range alternative to Western missiles.

The redesigned “Palianytsia”

The new model, presented a year after the drone’s initial debut, features redesigned wings, a longer fuselage, and modified tail surfaces. It measures 3.5 meters long with a 1.7-meter wingspan and weighs 320 kilograms, one third of which is a 100-kilogram warhead.

The drone can fly up to 650 kilometers at speeds of 900 km/h and operates at altitudes between 15 and 500 meters. It is powered by a turbojet engine and launched with a solid-fuel booster. Navigation combines inertial guidance, resistant to electronic jamming, with satellite correction for accuracy.

Proven in combat

The developers describe the drone as intended to strike targets deep behind enemy lines, including stationary land and naval positions. Its first reported combat deployment was on 24 August 2024. Details of that strike were not disclosed, but officials have announced plans to scale up production and reduce costs. 

The name “Palianytsia” comes from a traditional Ukrainian bread. During the war, it has taken on symbolic meaning, since Ukrainians can pronounce it easily while Russians often struggle – turning it into a cultural marker of identity and resistance.

At MSPO, the drone was displayed alongside other systems. Poland’s WB Group showcased a mock-up of its “Lanca” cruise missile, while Ukrainian company Ukrainian Armor presented the “Krechet,” a mobile command unit that integrates air-defense systems, mobile fire teams, and radars.

Ukrainian paratroopers destroyed a Russian armored convoy that was advancing toward Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, using HIMARS missiles and FPV drones in a coordinated nighttime assault. The strike reportedly took place on 28 August and targeted a mechanized group that had been spotted 10 kilometers behind Russian lines.

HIMARS strike shatters Russian push from Prohres toward Pokrovsk

Militarnyi reports that drone operators from the Ivan Franko Group, part of the 79th Air Assault Brigade, detected the convoy moving from the settlement of Prohres toward Malynivka, a village east of Pokrovsk. The Russian column consisted of seven vehicles, including tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, and was carrying up to 100 soldiers—some of whom were advancing on motorcycles.

Once the target was confirmed, Ukrainian forces launched a HIMARS missile, striking the column during its movement. The initial hit disrupted the formation, after which drone operators joined the attack, targeting abandoned or disabled vehicles. A second missile strike completed the operation, according to the 79th Brigade.

Ukrainian paratroopers reported that the entire armored group was destroyed, and at least 50 Russian soldiers were killed. They believe the unit may have been part of a force recently redeployed from Russia’s Kursk Oblast, possibly including elements of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade.

“The appearance of units near Pokrovsk from a different direction could explain the use of a large number of armored vehicles in an area where, for a long time, Russian forces had relied exclusively on small infantry groups to minimize losses from drones,” Militarnyi noted.

Faced with heavy losses and only limited territorial gains, Russian forces have previously shifted tactics—now infiltrating through the so-called “gray zone” under drone surveillance and concentrating troops for assault operations.

Armin Papperger, head of German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall, said Ukraine will soon receive its first ammunition from a new plant in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, Deutsche Welle reports. 

First deliveries and 2026 plans

This year, 25,000 shells will be sent to Ukraine. The factory could produce 150,000 or more next year.

“We will increase production to 350,000 for Germany and Ukraine. Next year, we can deliver at least 100,000, and later possibly 200,000 shells to Ukraine,” Papperger noted.

Ukrainian plant: plans and challenges

Rheinmetall is building a similar factory in Ukraine, but bureaucracy is slowing the process.

“I discussed this with Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. I told him: it can be done in 14 months. Currently, the civilian part isn’t ready; a concept is needed,” the CEO explained.

He added that the plant could be ready in 12–14 months if organizational issues are resolved.

Drones in Ukraine

The company also plans to invest in drone production — not small quadcopters, but larger, high-tech systems.

“If there are opportunities — we will do it,” Papperger added.

Two weeks are ticking down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reminded that US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a trilateral meeting is ending this Monday, on 1 September. 

US, Ukraine, and Russia: Will the meeting happen?

During his Washington visit on 19 August, Trump said his administration was ready to organize talks between Zelenskyy and Putin to reach an agreement on ending the war.

“At that time, the president said, ‘We will be ready in a couple of weeks.’ That means two to three weeks from our conversation. I want to remind that two weeks are up on Monday,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Meanwhile, Putin refuses to engage in negotiations. According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in this case Russia’s war against Ukraine could continue for “many months.”

Merz: Ukraine war could last “many months” as Putin blocks two-week summit plan

Kyiv under attack: no sign of peace

There is no evidence that Moscow seeks peace. Despite talks of negotiations, Russia continues massive attacks on Ukraine. In the latest strike on Kyiv, all types of weapons were used: Shahed drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. A total of 629 targets targeted the Ukrainian capital. The strike lasted nine hours and killed 25 people, including four children. 

Moscow’s conditions: ultimatum, not peace

Despite the warm Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska, Russia’s demands regarding Ukraine have not changed. Today, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova outlined what Russia calls “peace conditions”:

• Demilitarization of Ukraine,
• Denazification,
• Neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status,
• Recognition of occupied territories,
• Guarantees of rights of the Russian language and the Russian-speaking population, 
• End to persecution of canonical Orthodoxy.

Moscow supposedly offers “security guarantees” only after these conditions are met. In reality, these demands are mutually exclusive and would mean the elimination of an independent Ukraine.

Editor’s note: This article is being updated as new information comes in.

Russia launched a massive aerial strike on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities far from the front lines on the morning of 28 August, 2025. 

At least 21 people have been killed in Kyiv, with another 63 injured – reported as of 20:45pm. 

Four children are among the dead, including three aged 2, 14, and 17. Eleven children are also injured.

35 people are hospitalized, including six children. 

The barrage struck 33 locations throughout the city, with a direct missile hit destroying a five-story apartment building in Darnytskyi district where rescue operations continue to extract people from rubble.

“We have a record – damage in all districts of the city,” reports Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Timur Tkachenko.

“These Russian missiles and strike drones today are a clear response to everyone in the world who has been calling for a ceasefire and real diplomacy for weeks and months,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram.

He called on world leaders to react to the attack, specifically calling out China and Hungary. “We are waiting for the reaction of everyone in the world who called for peace, but now remains silent more often than taking principled positions.”

“All deadlines have been missed, dozens of opportunities for diplomacy have been ruined. Russia must feel responsibility for every strike, for every day of this war,” he added. 

Russia launched 598 drones overnight, including both Shahed attack drones and decoy drones designed to overwhelm air defense, Ukraine’s Air Force reports.

They also launched 31 missiles, including 2 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 9 Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 20 Kh-101 cruise missiles. 

Ukraine’s air defense intercepted 563 drones, 1 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, 7 Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles, and 18 Kh-101 missiles, according to the statement. 

Impact of the attack across Kyiv

In Darnytskyi district, Russians destroyed part of a five-story apartment building with a direct hit. Nine- and 16-story residential buildings, a private house, parking area, and kindergarten were also damaged.

In Dniprovskyi district, a 25-story residential building was damaged and a drone hit the yard next to a nine-story building, setting cars on fire. Dozens of vehicles were damaged across several locations in the district.

In Solomianskyi district, a private residential house caught fire, but the blaze has been contained.

Shevchenkivskyi district also suffered heavy damage, with several non-residential buildings, offices, and civilian vehicles hit.

In Holosiivskyi district, fires broke out at several locations in the morning, leaving more than 10 buildings with shattered windows and damaging vehicles.

Non-residential areas in Desnyanskyyi district were also affected, while damage was reported in Obolonskyi district.

Day 1280

On 26 August, the biggest news comes from Ukraine.

Here, Ukrainian long-range drones have attacked and sunk a Russian cargo vessel carrying Iranian Shahed drones before they could be unloaded. This was only the first step of what followed – a broader campaign in which Ukraine targeted everything connected to the Iranian Shahed drones, from launch sites to massive storage depots and assembly plants.

The first target of Ukraine became Port Olya on the Caspian sea, where they targeted a vessel of extreme importance, as the ship was loaded with ammunition and drone parts for Iranian Shahed drones. Footage shows the vessel listing, its bridge gutted by fire, and its hull partly submerged, contradicting Russian claims of light damage. Olya is Russia’s main port on the Caspian, linking Iran with inland routes, and striking here disrupted a key corridor that has funnelled Iranian drones into Russia for nightly strikes on Ukrainian cities.

The attack showed that shipments can be destroyed even at their entry point, far from the front, and for Ukraine, this sets a precedent for targeting the logistics routes that feed Russia’s drone campaign.

Ukraine has begun a methodical campaign against every stage of the Shahed program, aiming to destroy transport, launch, storage, and production sites in sequence.

The next strike hit the Primorsko-Akhtarsk airfield in Krasnodar, a known launch site for Shaheds across the Sea of Azov. Overnight, drones hit launch areas, with satellite data confirming fires shortly after Russian launch activity was detected. Because this airfield has been central to Russia’s swarm attacks, earlier satellite data shows repeated targeting to reduce operational capacity over time. Each strike forces Moscow to lean more on mobile launchers, which reduces massing and degrades the effectiveness of their saturation-style attacks.

Ukraine also struck storage depots in Tatarstan, over 1,300 kilometers from the border. At Kzyl-Yul, long-range drones hit warehouses storing ready-to-use Shaheds and imported parts, igniting fires that burned through the site.

Russian outlets tried to minimize the impact, but Ukrainian intelligence confirmed that a large number of drones were destroyed before they could be moved forward. Images shared by Russian sources of similar depots suggest that a single warehouse can hold a full strike package, often numbering hundreds in one facility alone. This was not an isolated event, as Ukraine hit the same depot again a short while later, waiting for the depot to be replenished before striking again.

The factory at Yelabuga in Tatarstan has also remained under Ukrainian fire, because this plant is the largest and central to Russia’s effort to assemble Shaheds domestically and reduce dependency on Iranian supplies. Earlier strikes damaged workshops and caused fires, and recent attacks again reached the site.

For Russia, keeping the factory running is critical to sustaining output, but each hit delays production and raises the cost of finding technicians willing to work under threat, and after repeated strikes, few will take jobs at a site that is a major target for Ukraine, which the Russian government also cannot protect. For Ukraine, hitting Yelabuga targets the core of Russian drone assembly, and returning to the site after earlier attacks signals that Ukraine can monitor and disrupt production in cycles, not just once.

The sequence of strikes on a ship destroyed in Astrakhan, a launch site hit in Krasnodar, depots burning in Tatarstan, and a factory repeatedly attacked reflects a deliberate strategy. Ukraine is no longer just intercepting drones in the air but targeting the full ecosystem that enables their use, because the fight has shifted from defense to offense. By striking the supply chain from point of entry through storage and launch to final assembly, Kyiv has shown that every stage is vulnerable and that distance no longer guarantees protection.

Overall, the strikes have made Shaheds far costlier for Russia, forcing it to defend supply routes and factories across thousands of kilometers. Moscow must disperse scarce air defenses, reroute shipments from Iran, and absorb the loss of production facilities that cannot easily be replaced. Each strike weakens Russia’s ability to sustain mass drone attacks, proving that Ukrainian drones can strike accurately across Russia’s depth.

In a war of attrition, this balance matters: the further Ukraine can strike into Russian territory, the less Moscow can count on Iranian drones to sustain its pressure campaign.

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

A local farmer discovered pieces of an attack drone on 25 August around 3 PM in a field in Koruste village, Elva parish, Tartu County, according to Kaitsepolitsei (Estonian Security Police) Director General Margo Palloson.

The incident site also revealed an explosion crater, though no injuries occurred.

“Subsequently, all necessary procedures were initiated,” Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

The Security Police launched an investigation in cooperation with the prosecutor’s office to clarify the circumstances. Emergency services responded to the incident.

Palloson said the Security Police believes the drone came down on Estonian territory on early morning of 24 August.

“We have reason to believe that this may be a Ukrainian drone that was targeted at Russian inland objects, but which Russia diverted from its course with its GPS jamming and other electronic warfare means, and it veered into Estonian airspace. Currently, nothing indicates that this could be a Russian drone,” Palloson explained.

The Security Police chief said this was a military drone carrying explosives that detonated. Had it fallen on a residential building, Palloson said, the drone could have caused extensive damage.

Palloson indicated the drone may have entered Estonian airspace from either Russian or Latvian airspace, which is currently under investigation.

Pevkur attributed the drone debris discovery primarily to Russia’s continued war in Ukraine and Ukraine’s self-defense efforts.

Defense Intelligence Service Chief Ants Kiviselg, commenting more broadly on the incident, said Russia’s GPS jamming is directed at protecting Russian strategic objects and is not aimed directly at Estonia or other NATO allies. Kiviselg emphasized that the threat level in Estonia has not changed.

Pevkur revealed Estonia has begun procuring new types of radars that detect low-flying objects. “Is it possible to create general coverage with this? Theoretically yes, depending on how much resource we deploy there. Our capability will become significantly better. Whether it will have 100% coverage, time will tell. At the same time, the Ukraine war shows that there is no 100% coverage anywhere,” Pevkur said.

Pevkur said he also communicated with Ukraine’s defense minister on 25 August.

On the morning of 24 August, the Police and Border Guard Board tracked a drone flying over Lake Peipus, which later crashed into the lake on Russian territory.

Saturday and early Sunday morning saw active drone movement in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast, when Ukraine attacked Russian-based objects with drones. The drones targeted both objects in St. Petersburg and the Ust-Luga port oil terminal near the Estonian border.

Tensions have flared between Moscow and its key ally, the one that has given unprecedented support in the killing of Ukrainians. During the Iran–Israel war in June 2025, the Kremlin passed information to Israel about Iran’s air defense centers, says Seyyed Mohammad Sadr, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, Al Arabiya reports.

Alliance cracking at seams

“This war proved the uselessness of the strategic alliance with Moscow,” Sadr claims, stressing that the Kremlin essentially failed to support Tehran during its conflict with Israel.

Even when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow on 23 June requesting air defense systems and assistance for nuclear facilities, Russia limited itself to verbal condemnation of Israel’s attacks, according to Asriran. 

The visit happened during the Russia-US negotiations over Ukraine and when US President Donald Trump’s administation regarded Moscow as potential partner, which could secure Iranian nuclear technology. 

Russia emerges as potential mediator in Trump’s new Iran nuclear deal talks

Putin and Pezeshkian: strategic partnership on paper

In January 2025, the presidents of Russia and Iran, Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, signed a “strategic partnership” treaty in Moscow, which the Kremlin called “groundbreaking.”

However, during the war with Israel it became clear that Moscow was not ready to actually defend its ally. Moreover, back in 2024, Israel destroyed all Russian S-300 systems in Iran, while the promised S-400s were never delivered.

Ukraine moves closer to a $50 million drone deal with the US. On 25 August, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal met with US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg in Kyiv to discuss the frontline situation, weapons production, and joint defense projects.

Drone deal: 10 million drones per year

Ukraine proposed joint drone production with the US worth $50 billion over five years. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the deal envisions producing 10 million drones annually, making it one of the largest defense initiatives worldwide.

The deal includes not only bulk procurement of Ukrainian drones but also the development of joint technologies to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The political decision was made by Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in Washington, Glavcom reports.

Recently, Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has confirmed plans to finalize the landmark deal: Ukraine will sell its domestically developed drones and, in return, receive advanced US weapons. Kyiv offers partners unique technologies, security products, and defense expertise.

US support and NATO cooperation

Defense Minister Shmyhal thanked General Kellogg and the American for leadership and support, emphasizing that “it helps save lives and brings a just peace closer.”

He also praised the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative, which allows NATO countries to rapidly supply critical US weapons and technology.

Boosting production and security guarantees

Shmyhal also briefed Kellogg on Ukraine’s defense priorities: ramping up ammunition and drone production to halt the aggressor’s offensive. Joint projects in this area help more efficiently equip Ukrainian soldiers.

They also discussed creating reliable security guarantees to prevent future aggression against Ukraine, developed in close cooperation with international partners.

A strike at the heart of Russia’s gas empire! Ukrainian forces hit a gas processing complex in Russia’s Ust-Luga, Leningrad Oblast, a strategic facility of the aggressor country in the Baltic region, according to Armiia TV. 

Target and consequences of the strike

“Ukrainian drones struck the gas processing complex of Novatek, the largest liquefied gas producer in Russia. The hit targeted the cryogenic fractionation unit for gas condensate/gas, which is the ‘heart’ of the facility’s technological processes,” the sources say.

This is the second successful attack on the Ust-Luga port in 2025, the first occurring in early January.

Strategic importance of Ust-Luga’s object

“Ust-Luga is Russia’s largest maritime hub in the Baltic. Shadow fleet, sanctioned oil — everything passes through there,” Lieutenant Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, stated. 

Thanks to precise drone strikes, the operation disrupted the work of a key Russian logistics hub supplying liquefied gas and oil to external markets.