Russia carried out a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine on 16 September, striking the eastern city of Zaporizhzhia with multiple rocket salvos.

The strikes killed two people and injured 20 others, including four children. The attack also caused widespread destruction to residential areas, according to regional and national officials.

Zaporizhzhia, a major city in southeastern Ukraine, has been a frequent target of Russian strikes since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The city lies close to the front line and just north of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest.

Though never captured, Zaporizhzhia has endured repeated barrages of missiles, drones, and artillery that have destroyed residential neighborhoods, energy facilities, and infrastructure. The region has become a symbol of both Ukraine’s resilience and the ongoing vulnerability of civilian areas to Russia’s campaign of aerial terror.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that around midnight Russian forces launched ten Tornado-S multiple rocket system rounds at Zaporizhzhia. The strikes hit private homes and non-residential buildings, sparking fires across several neighborhoods.

“They struck deliberately to terrorize our people,” said Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration.

Russian “aerial terror” overnight

The strike on Zaporizhzhia was part of a wider wave of Russian attacks on early 16 September. According to Ukrainian officials, more than 100 drones and 150 guided aerial bombs were used against multiple regions, including Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, a strike on a farm killed one civilian.

Since the beginning of September, Russia has fired more than 3500 drones, nearly 190 missiles, and over 2500 aerial bombs against Ukraine. Fedorov described these attacks as “aerial terror.”

“Now is the time to implement the joint protection of our European sky with a multilayered air defense system. All the necessary technologies exist. What is needed are investments and the will, strong actions, and decisions from all our partners,” he added.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko urged the world to respond by strengthening sanctions against Russia and providing Ukraine with more air defenses to protect cities and people.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces deploy CATA-type launcher systems from Estonian manufacturer Threod Systems to launch long-range strike drones, the company’s commercial director Ranno Paduri revealed at the DSEI exhibition held 9-12 September.

“Every time you see a long-range drone hitting a target on Russian territory, it’s quite likely that our launcher was used by Ukrainian military,” Paduri said, according to the Defense News.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces have operated CATA launchers since 2022, according to Paduri. The systems provide silent operation and maintain four-minute intervals between launches – a capability he described as crucial for conducting mass drone strikes given the dangerous nature of such operations.

Defense Express said that Threod Systems’ official website lists an even shorter interval of less than three minutes between launches.

Beyond Ukraine, Estonian company Threod Systems supplies CATA launcher systems to multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, according to the report.

The CATA launcher handles strike drones weighing up to 400 kilograms and traveling at speeds up to 55 meters per second. The company emphasizes the system’s operational simplicity, featuring remote control capabilities, two-operator requirements, and one-week training periods.

The launcher system includes a remote control unit that allows operators to maintain distance from the launch site. This configuration reduces personnel exposure during high-risk operations while maintaining operational effectiveness.

Defense Express previously reported that Ukraine will receive a record number of battle-tested THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles from Estonian company Milrem Robotics.

Ukrainian forces hit a chemical facility deep in Russia’s Perm Oblast that produces components for military explosives, demonstrating Kyiv’s expanding reach into Russian industrial targets.

Drones struck the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Gubakha on 13 September, according to regional governor Dmitry Manohin, who reported no casualties and said the facility continued normal operations.

Russian news channel Astra later identified the specific target: a newly built urea production workshop that opened just last year.

The facility represents a significant strategic target due to its dual-use chemical production capabilities. According to defense publication Militarnyi, the plant produces urea, a key component in ammonium-nitrate mixtures that can serve as explosive filling for both civilian and military applications, including artillery shells and mines. 

While Metafrax Chemicals avoids public ties to Russia’s defense sector, its parent company Roskhim supplies chemical products directly to military industries.

Metafrax ranks among Russia’s largest methanol producers and landed the 200th spot in Forbes’ 2021 ranking of the country’s biggest private companies.

Local residents posted footage showing building damage and smoke rising from the facility, located approximately 1,600 km (994 miles) from the Ukrainian border, while Ukraine’s intelligence later confirmed their responsibility for the strike.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses shot down 80 drones overnight, though that number couldn’t be verified.

Ukrainian railway attacks inside Russia

Intelligence services simultaneously struck railway lines that Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate and Special Operations Forces have now openly claimed responsibility for.

The rail operations hit Oryol and Leningrad oblasts on 13-14 September, an intelligence source told RBC-Ukraine.

“These railway branches are critically important logistical links in supplying occupying forces in the Kharkiv and Sumy directions,” the source explained.

The goal: create major supply headaches that would “substantially affect their ability to carry out active operations.”

In Oryol Oblast, explosive devices killed three Russian National Guard personnel during track inspections, governor Andrey Klychkov reported.

Leningrad Oblast saw a locomotive derail with 15 cisterns attached. Governor Alexander Drozdenko called them empty, but Ukrainian sources claimed they carried fuel. A separate derailment killed a train engineer. Russian investigators suspect sabotage in both cases.

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. 

Russian forces had been preparing strikes on Poland and Lithuania for months, using 4G modems with Polish and Lithuanian SIM cards to test drone connectivity as early as June, according to the Ukrainian defense news outlet Defense Express.

SIM cards from Poland and Lithuania found in downed drones

In early July, Polish investigators revealed that wreckage from Russian drones shot down in Ukraine contained 4G modems equipped with SIM cards from Polish mobile operators, as reported by Polish journalist Marek Budzisz. Later, a SIM card from a Lithuanian operator was also discovered in another drone.

Analysts say this detail directly points to Russia’s preparation for drone incursions into NATO airspace, as Moscow tested mobile network connections in advance. The findings were reported to partners in Poland and Lithuania. Still, the revelations triggered little reaction domestically — even as Russian drones began entering Polish airspace regularly during the summer.

“Whether the Russian drones that attacked Poland today had such capabilities remains unknown. At the same time, the assumption that one of the tasks of this Russian attack was precisely reconnaissance of Poland’s air defense system is quite justified,” Defense Express wrote, noting that the Russia-Belarus military drills Zapad 2025 kick off today.

Nighttime drone raids over Poland

During Russia’s air attacks against Ukraine, Moscow’s drones violated the Polish airspace on multiple occasions. For example, on 7 September, a Russian drone bearing with “Cyrillic inscriptions” crashed near the Terespol border crossing with Belarus, according to Polish media. Poland and NATO forces, however, refused to shoot down such drones up until 10 September.

And in the early hours of 10 September, Russian drones once again violated Polish airspace. The incident prompted Polish aviation to scramble and temporarily shut down airports in Warsaw, Lublin, and Rzeszów amid fears of a wider attack. NATO fighter jets shot down at least four of reportedly 19 drones that crossed into Poland.

Ukraine’s Air Force said on 10 September that Russia launched 415 drones and 43 missiles, while the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that at least eight Shahed explosive drones were deliberately “aimed toward Poland,” calling the incident “a perilous precedent for Europe” and urging a united response from Western partners.

Despite clear evidence of intent, NATO has so far avoided classifying the violation as an act of aggression.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

Russian drones breached Polish airspace on the night of 10 September 2025, prompting a rapid NATO response. Sweden will urgently send air defense systems and fighter jets to Poland, confirmed Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in a live appearance on TVN24.

Sweden pledges aircraft and missile systems

“This day is not just about words of support, but also concrete declarations,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said on TVN24. “I just received information from Sweden’s Minister of Defense about the urgent delivery of additional support to Poland—air defense systems and aircraft.”

He stressed that allied decisions are now backed by action.

“Every such escalation makes us more united, not divided,” he said.

According to the minister, Sweden’s military aid will arrive alongside multi-level commitments from other NATO allies, delivered “within dozens of hours.”

Russian drones in Poland

Debris from the drones was recovered, but identifying the models remains difficult.

“They often broke into very small pieces,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated.

He linked the incident directly to Russia’s broader ambitions.

“Russia’s strategy never changes,” he said. “They may change slogans or shapes, but they always move in one direction: destroying the civilization of the West, destroying our culture, our values, and the civilization of life.”

Allies respond with weapons, troops, and coordination

Support from NATO countries has been swift and tangible. The Netherlands will deliver Patriot batteries, NASAMS systems, anti-drone equipment, and 300 soldiers. Other allies—including the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Italy, and the Baltic states—have made clear commitments.

“All our allies are ready to provide support,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. “They are making concrete declarations.”

Poland triggered consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty—an uncommon move, but one the minister called “a rare and serious situation.” He referenced the 2003 NATO mission near Türkiye’s border with Iraq as a precedent for this type of coordinated defense initiative.

Eyes on Zapad 2025 as drone threats rise

When asked why this particular night saw intensified Russian drone activity, Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed to the timing.

“The correlation with the Zapad exercises is evident,” he said.

Zapad 2025, the latest joint Russian-Belarusian military drills, officially begin on 12 September. Poland has already announced it will shut its border with Belarus starting midnight that day, citing security risks tied to the exercise.

Russia drowns in anxiety – medications are being sold like hotcakes. Since the beginning of 2025, antidepressant sales in Russia have surged amid the war against Ukraine and ongoing economic problems, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

From January to July, pharmacy chains sold 12.9 million packs of such medications worth $118 million, a 36% increase in monetary terms compared to the previous year.

Sales of anxiolytics, which reduce anxiety, rose 10% in the first half of the year, exceeding 9.3 million packs.

Doctors report an increase in patients experiencing symptoms of depression, panic attacks, insomnia, and drug dependence.

Pressure from electronic draft notices and social anxiety

The rise in demand for psychiatric drugs coincides with a large-scale campaign to create a register of military conscripts.

Since July, Russians have been receiving mass notifications about being added to the database, including female medical workers, teenagers, and people with limited fitness.

The Russian parliament emphasizes that the rollout of electronic draft notices does not signify the start of mobilization, but these messages have become a key driver of societal anxiety.

Earlier, Euromaidan Press reported that the Kremlin seeks to avoid repeating the social upheavals that followed the Soviet war in Afghanistan and is attempting to control demobilisation from Ukraine’s war. 

A high number of veterans with PTSD are returning home, posing dangers to their families.

Among the demobilized are individuals who have already served prison terms, including thieves, murderers, and rapists. 

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.

One person died and nine others were injured in a Russian combined strike on Ukraine during the night of 10 September, according to regional officials across multiple oblasts.

The attack involved 415 strike drones of Shahed, Gerbera and other types, and 43 missiles of ground, air and sea-based launch, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses managed to neutralize 413 targets – 386 Russian drones and 27 cruise/aviation missiles Kh-101/Kalibr/Kh-59(69). About 16 missiles and 21 drones hit their targets across 17 locations.

The fatality occurred in Zhytomyr Oblast, where a local resident died in hospital from burns of varying degrees, reports the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS). At least five people were injured in Zhytomyr Oblast – four in Zhytomyr city and one in Berdychiv, the DSNS added.

In Khmelnytskyi Oblast, the attack injured three people, destroyed a garment factory and damaged destroyed a gas station, transport, and broke windows. “All injured are receiving medical care,” Tyurin said.

Vinnytsia Oblast saw damage to civilian industrial infrastructure and residential buildings, with one person hospitalized in stable condition, reports first deputy head of the regional administration Natalia Zabolotna. About 30 residential buildings were damaged in the oblast. Windows were broken, roofs and adjacent territories were damaged, she said. Twenty-six drones and 11 cruise missiles reportedly operated in Vinnytsia’s airspace during the attack.

In Cherkasy Oblast, two Russian missiles and about ten drones were neutralized, with no casualties reported but infrastructure damage sustained, according to oblast governor Ihor Taburets. The blast wave partially destroyed a barn in Zolotonosha district, killing two cows and causing a fire, while also damaging windows and roofs in five houses and a car.

Volyn Oblast recorded “several dozen Russian drones” overhead, resulting in a fire at one production facility from debris of a downed target, governor Ivan Rudnytsky said. There are reportedly no dead or wounded.

Lviv came under attack from approximately 60 Russian Shaheds and over 10 missiles, but air defenses prevented casualties, according to Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. “Thanks to our air defense forces for preventing disaster. There are no casualties, no destruction of housing stock. There was debris hitting a civilian warehouse on Aviatsiina street. We are now assessing the damage,” Sadovyi stated.

DSNS psychologists provided assistance to 26 people, including three children, in the affected areas.

During the massive overnight attack on Ukraine, Poland’s Operational Command also confirmed that Russian drones violated the country’s airspace.

This marks the first serious attack on a NATO member country since Russia’s full-scale invasion began against Ukraine. Warsaw called this the incident an “act of aggression,” and the country closed four airports.

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.

Russia’s 7 September missile attack on Kyiv’s Cabinet of Ministers building used an Iskander 9M727 cruise missile containing more than 30 foreign-made components, including parts manufactured in the US, UK, Japan, and Switzerland, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser on sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk.

Missile strike on Cabinet building used Western tech

Vlasiuk confirmed the building was struck with a 9M727 Iskander missile. The warhead did not explode, he said, likely due to the missile being damaged. However, the fuel ignited and caused a fire on the roof of the Cabinet building.

According to Vlasiuk, a previously examined missile of the same model contained 35 American-made parts, five Belarusian parts, and 57 Russian ones. The missile also included one component each from Japan, the UK, and Switzerland.

Foreign manufacturers identified in the missile included Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, and Altera from the US, College Electronics Ltd from the UK, Fujitsu from Japan, and Traco Power from Switzerland.

Belarusian company Integral was also listed, alongside multiple Russian firms such as Mikron, Production Association “Strela”, Angstrem, Research and Design Bureau “Eksiton”, and Karachevsky Plant “Elektrodetal”.

Shift in missile component origin revealed

Vlasiuk noted that compared to missiles analyzed in previous years, the number of US and European components had declined. In contrast, the use of Russian and Belarusian-made components increased.

Record missile and drone assault on 7 September

On 7 September, Russia launched an unprecedented assault on Ukraine using 605 explosive drones and 13 missiles. One of the missiles struck the roof of the Cabinet of Ministers building in central Kyiv.

The deadliest attack that day targeted a nine-story apartment building in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district. The blast at the residential building killed three civilians, including a baby, and injured 11 others. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) completed the search and rescue operation at the site on 8 September. Rescuers managed to save seven residents from the rubble.

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.

Seven Iranian-designed Russian Shahed drones struck the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on 6 September evening, leaving fifteen people wounded and reducing a kindergarten to rubble.

The attack unfolded around 9 p.m. as residents heard the familiar buzz of approaching drones. Viktor watched from his second-floor window as one headed straight for his neighborhood.

“I saw the drone flying, I thought it would fly straight into the roof,” he told Suspilne Zaporizhzhia.

The blast wave threw his wife from their home. Viktor found her unconscious under the door and dragged her to safety before their children rushed her to the hospital. Windows and doors throughout his house were blown out, his barn burned down, and a massive crater now marks his garden.

“The blast wave threw her out of the house. I found her under the door and dragged her to the garage, and the children took her to the hospital,” he shared.

Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, reported that four people required hospitalization: three women and one man injured, all in moderate condition. But the kindergarten bore the worst damage—80% of the building destroyed.

Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept some drones before they reached their targets. The ones that got through also damaged six apartment buildings, four private houses, and critical infrastructure.

The Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal investigation, confirming the weapons as Shahed-type strike drones—the same Iranian-designed aircraft Russia has used in hundreds of attacks across Ukraine.

Earlier on 5 September, Russian forces killed a 56-year-old woman with an FPV drone in the same region. Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces launched 476 strikes across 15 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, damaging homes and farm buildings.

Emergency services are preparing repair work including window boarding and roof restoration once the air raid alert is lifted.

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.”

Russia is deliberately targeting Western-linked sites in Ukraine to send a message of defiance against diplomatic efforts to end the war, The New York Times reports. The strikes — aimed at an American-operated factory and European diplomatic offices — signal a calculated rejection of peace talks and Western involvement, according to officials and military analysts cited by the outlet.

Kremlin uses strikes to resist Western diplomacy

On 21 August, Russian cruise missiles hit a factory in Mukachevo run by Flex Ltd., an American multinational company best known locally for making Nespresso coffee machines. The plant, Ukraine’s largest employer in Zakarpattia Oblast, had no role in military production, according to local officials and the company itself. Nonetheless, it became a target just six days after US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss possible paths toward ending the war.

A week later, two more Russian missiles struck central Kyiv, damaging buildings housing the European Union delegation and the British Council. The diplomatic quarter in Kyiv had previously been spared by Russian forces. Following the strikes, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly accused Moscow of intentionally attacking EU diplomatic infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is now “striking at everyone in the world who seeks peace.”

These strikes were not isolated. NYT notes that more than half of American companies operating in Ukraine have already sustained damage from Russian attacks. The list includes major international names such as McDonald’s, Boeing-affiliated facilities, and a Philip Morris plant. The Flex factory alone, which employed around 3,000 people at the time of the strike, was the largest taxpayer in its oblast and produced only commercial consumer products.

A shift toward punishing peace supporters

According to NYT, the Kremlin’s choice of targets — foreign-linked civilian infrastructure and cultural institutions — suggests a deliberate effort to intimidate and punish those backing Ukraine’s defense and sovereignty through diplomacy, investment, or postwar security guarantees. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko said the attacks are “a clear signal” that Putin now feels emboldened to extend the war beyond Ukraine and toward the West itself.

Franz-Stefan Gady, a military analyst based in Vienna, told NYT that Moscow is intentionally testing the boundaries of Western deterrence. The aim, he said, is to impose costs on Ukraine’s allies while avoiding direct military retaliation — a strategy designed to weaken Western resolve and push Ukraine into disadvantageous negotiations.

European governments are currently debating whether to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, and the strikes appear designed to dissuade that. Volodymyr Dubovyk, director of the Center for International Studies at Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University, described the message from Moscow as clear: “Don’t you dare send your troops here.”

A pattern of escalation

The 28 August strike on Kyiv, which included hundreds of missiles and drones, killed at least 25 civilians — the deadliest attack on the capital since the Trump–Putin meeting. While none of the fatalities occurred at the damaged diplomatic offices, the choice of targets marked a dramatic shift in Russia’s strategy.

The Kremlin has dismissed negotiations as premature and rejected Western-proposed security guarantees for Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense falsely claimed that its strike on the Mukachevo factory was aimed at the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told NBC News he had allegedly “never heard about” the Flex attack, while simultaneously denying that Russia targets civilian sites.

Following the attacks, President Trump said he was “not happy” with Russia’s actions. However, the US response so far has been limited to verbal disapproval, with no new sanctions or retaliatory steps announced.

A massive Russian drone attack left 29,000 people without power in Odesa Oblast on the morning of 31 August, regional officials said.

The coastal city of Chornomorsk, just south of Odesa, suffered the most damage, oblast governor Oleh Kiper reported on Telegram. Critical infrastructure in the area is currently running on generators.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, reported that four of its facilities in Odesa Oblast were hit during the overnight attack.

Private houses and administrative buildings were also damaged. One person was reported injured.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with 142 drones, 126 of which were shot down. 

The major coastal city of Odesa is a regular target for Russian aerial assaults, which have repeatedly damaged infrastructure and disrupted daily life. These attacks have caused power outages, property damage, injuries, and deaths, highlighting the ongoing risk faced by residents.

A Russian Gerbera drone shot down over Ukraine was found to contain footage showing a camera test at a Chinese factory. Militarnyi reports that the footage was stored inside the onboard Viewpro A40 camera.

Chinese factory video found in shot-down Russian drone

Ukrainian defense forces recovered a Gerbera drone equipped with an A40 camera from the Chinese company Viewpro. According to Militarnyi, the footage discovered inside the drone showed a test of this camera conducted at Viewpro’s production site in Shenzhen.

The “About Communications by Serhii Flash” Telegram channel published the footage and stated that it showed the camera being tested at the Chinese factory. 

The Viewpro facility is located in the Aotexing Science Park in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District.

Cyber Boroshno geolocated the footage using coordinates 22.554448, 113.944050 and confirmed that it was filmed at that exact location. The community stated that although the address from the manufacturer’s website does not appear correctly on Google Maps, translating it into Chinese and checking it through Baidu confirmed the location with complete certainty.

Chinese components repeatedly found in Russian drones

Militarnyi notes that Russia continues to receive large volumes of components and finished products from China for use in military systems, including drones.

In March 2025, Militarnyi reported that a new 16-element CRPA antenna had been discovered inside a Shahed kamikaze drone. That antenna was designed to overcome Ukrainian electronic warfare systems.

Russia has also placed significant orders for drone battery systems and continues to cooperate with China in other areas related to unmanned weapons.

In July 2024, the New York Times reported that Russia was importing sanctioned equipment through Hong Kong for use in drone production and other weapons systems.

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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.

Rescue workers in Kyiv concluded operations at the site of a Russian missile strike on a residential building in the Darnytskyi district after more than 30 hours of work, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on 29 August.

Emergency services dismantled the main structural debris of the destroyed building to ensure no people remained trapped under the rubble. Some bodies have not yet been identified, and 8 people remain out of contact with their relatives, according to officials.

The Russian attack killed 23 people, with 22 deaths resulting from the direct hit on the Darnytskyi district building, authorities confirmed. Four children were among the victims, including a two-year-old girl who was the youngest casualty.

Emergency workers rescued 17 people from the debris, including 4 children. A total of 53 people were injured across the capital during the strike.

Emergency restoration work continues to allow residents of undamaged apartments to retrieve their belongings as quickly as possible, officials said.

The attack occurred during the night of 28 August, when Russian forces launched nearly 600 drones and 31 missiles at Ukraine, including Kinzhal and Iskander missiles. Kyiv recorded two direct missile hits on residential buildings.

The Kyiv City Military Administration described the consequences as record-breaking, with damage recorded in all city districts across 33 locations. The Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts suffered the most damage, with one strike completely destroying an entrance to a five-story building.

The attack damaged offices of Ukrainska Pravda, Radio Liberty, the European Investment Bank, the EU mission, and the British Council.

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt said President Donald Trump was “not satisfied, but not surprised” by Russia’s attack on Kyiv.

Exclusives

Blast refineries, raise gas prices: a job for Ukraine’s new missiles. Russia’s oil industry is already hurting. Now imagine what a Ukrainian cruise missile with a 1,000-kg warhead can do.

Russians captured him, cut his throat, and left Ukrainian POW to die. He survived and wants revenge for tortured comrades. National Guard soldier Vladyslav was dragged into a basement near Pokrovsk and watched how the Russians tortured seven Ukrainian defenders before they slashed his own throat and dumped him in a pit with their bodies, thinking he was dead. He was not.

2 million workers gone: Russia’s war economy slides toward collapse. With 73% of businesses understaffed, defense plants are breaking under labor shortages and falling output.

Military

Major pipeline explosion halts Moscow fuel supplies after Ryazan blast

. The main Ryazan-Moscow oil pipeline exploded on 26 August, disrupting fuel supplies to Russia’s capital and prompting Transneft to assess damages from the incident.

Frontline report: Ukrainian drones strike 1,300 kilometers deep into Russia, torching Shahed storage depots in Tatarstan. The Yelabuga factory has become too dangerous to staff, with few technicians willing to work at Russia’s largest Shahed assembly plant under repeated Ukrainian strikes.

FT: West plans 3-layer defense system for post-war Ukraine with NATO forces. Approximately 10 countries are prepared to send troops to Ukrainian territory after the war ends with Britain has proposed deploying Typhoon fighter jets in western Ukraine

Intelligence and technology

Russia builds air defense towers around drone factory as Ukraine deep strikes intensify, partisans report. The Yelabuga facility in Russia’s Tatarstan, which produces over 5,000 Geran-2 drones monthly, has sustained repeated attacks throughout 2025.

International

Yermak, Kyslytsia, Umerov to represent Ukraine in New York talks with Witkoff.

Most Germans believe that Ukraine can cede territory for peace – poll

. Far-right AfD supporters drive German sentiment toward Ukrainian territorial concessions, with 72% backing land-for-peace deals compared to just 43% of conservative voters

Trump envoy: Russia submits Donetsk peace plan Ukraine “may not take”. A Russian peace proposal involving Donetsk Oblast sits before Ukrainian negotiators as President Trump continues pressing both sides toward a settlement.

US envoy sets Ukraine talks for this week, reveals daily Russia contact. A Ukrainian delegation will meet with US envoy Steve Witkoff in New York this week, as the official revealed he maintains daily contact with Russian officials and believes a peace agreement is “already on the table.”

Ukrainians contributed $ 5 bn to Poland’s budget in 2024 as refugee protection faces uncertainty. New figures reveal 1.55mn Ukrainians generated $5 bn for Poland’s budget in 2024, coinciding with President Nawrocki’s veto of refugee protection extension.

Humanitarian and social impact

Ukrainian woman who fled war in Ukraine was stabbed to death in the US. Her suspected killer was arrested but the cause of the murder is still unknown.

Russian drones target civilian energy infrastructure across six Ukrainian regions causing power outages. Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy described the strikes as “another act of energy terrorism aimed at the civilian population.”

Ukrainian POW returns from 7-year Russian imprisonment with his cat

. Stanislav Panchenko, 25, returned to Ukraine with 84 other released prisoners. Unlike the others, Panchenko brought home his cat Myshko, whom he had rescued and raised during 4 years in Russian captivity.

Russian forces kill civilian, injure three in morning attacks on Kherson. An 81-year-old woman died and three men sustained injuries ranging from burns to traumatic brain injury during Russian attacks on Kherson

Political and legal developments

Scandal-hit Odesa chemical giant goes up for sale. Privatization aims to restore facility crucial for feeding Ukraine and the world.

Ukraine allows men aged 18-22 to travel abroad amid conflict over army recruitment versus demographic crisis. Military commanders argue the country cannot afford to let healthy young men leave when frontline units desperately need fresh recruits, while civilians contend that travel restrictions have accelerated family emigration and severed homeland ties for an entire generation of Ukrainian youth abroad.

New developments

Ukraine’s western regions see tourism boom. Tourism tax revenues surge 35% as mountain resorts and cultural cities defy wartime expectations.

Minneapolis school shooter wrote “I am terrorist” and “Kill yourself” in Russian on weapon magazines and listened to Russian rappers. Westman mixed desperate Russian phrases with violent English fantasies, writing “I have had thoughts about mass murder for a long time” before targeting his former elementary school where his mother worked and killing two children.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Ukrainian drones struck several targets across Russia in the early hours of 28 August, causing fires at two oil refineries and disrupting rail traffic. Confirmed attacks hit the Kuibyshevsky refinery in the city of Samara about 1,000 km from the frontlines, the Afipsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai around 300 km behind the lines, and a locomotive depot in Petrov Val, Volgograd Oblast. A railway station in Samara Oblast was also reportedly targeted, leading to service delays. 

Strike hits Samara’s Kuibyshevsky refinery

According to Russian Telegram news channel Astra and Ukrainian Exilenova+, a drone attack caused fires at the Kuibyshevsky oil refinery in Samara in the early hours of 28 August. Both channels shared footage of the attack and the subsequent fires.

Local residents began reporting UAV flights over the city and explosions near the facility shortly after 03:00. According to both channels, initial confusion led many locals to believe the Novokuibyshevsky refinery had been hit again after an attack weeks ago. 

Exilenova+ posted follow-ups referencing public speculation about the number of drones involved, writing that “the excited local crowd counted 17 drones, lost count.” The same channel later claimed, without confirmation, that both the Kuibyshevsky and Novokuibyshevsky refineries had been struck.

In response to the attack, the governor of Samara Oblast announced temporary flight restrictions at Samara airport and mobile internet outages “for citizens’ safety.” Emergency services and air defense systems were reportedly activated during the incident.

Afipsky refinery also targeted in Krasnodar Krai

Exilenova+ also shared footage of fires at on the Afipsky oil refinery in southern Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. Russian authorities confirmed the attack, but attributed damage to “falling drone debris” that caused a fire at one of the refinery’s units in the settlement of Afipsky.

The attack affected a gas and condensate processing unit, previously targeted in earlier strikes, according to Exilenova’s geolocation of the footage. The channel geolocated and published video evidence of the fire. Emergency crews were deployed to the scene, with 21 personnel and eight vehicles extinguishing the 20-square-meter blaze. Officials stated there were no casualties.

Petrov Val train depot attacked again

The city of Petrov Val in Volgograd Oblast experienced a repeat drone strike, just five days after a previous attack on 23 August. Exilenova+ shared videos showing fires at the facility, claiming the attack targeted the TChE-7 locomotive depot. According to Astra, a drone impact led to a fire at one of the technical buildings of the depot in the city. Governor Bocharov stated that the fire was quickly extinguished and that there were no injuries.

Rail traffic disrupted in Samara Oblast

In addition to refinery and depot attacks, drones reportedly also targeted Kryazh station in Samara Oblast. Astra quoted Kuybyshev Railway as saying that drone debris damaged the contact network between Kryazh and Lipiahy stations.

The incident led to train disruptions: six long-distance and four suburban trains were delayed, with the maximum delay reaching 2 hours and 14 minutes. Three suburban trains were canceled.

Russia claims 102 drones downed overnight

Despite the widespread damage, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed its air defenses destroyed 102 Ukrainian drones overnight. According to the ministry, 22 drones were intercepted over the Black Sea, 21 each over Rostov and Samara oblasts, 18 over Krasnodar Krai, 11 over occupied Crimea, three each over Voronezh and Saratov oblasts, two over Volgograd Oblast, and one over the Sea of Azov.

As always, the Russian ministry’s claims have not been independently verified.

Russian authorities have constructed a Pantsir air defense tower adjacent to a drone manufacturing facility in Yelabuga, according to the partisan movement ATESH, which claims the measure reflects damage from Ukrainian strikes.

ATESH agents working at the factory documented the defensive installation near the facility, the group announced via Telegram on 26 August.

The organization characterized the construction as evidence that Ukrainian drone attacks have already inflicted damage on the plant.

Ukrainian forces conducted their most recent drone strike against the Yelabuga facility on 25 August. The facility has faced multiple Ukrainian attacks throughout 2025, with documented strikes occurring in April, June, and August.

The Elabuga installation represents part of a broader pattern across Russia. The group’s agents have documented similar tower constructions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and other cities. These structures feature modules designed for Pantsir air defense systems and are being erected to counter Ukrainian drone operations.

ATESH maintains that these defensive measures will prove insufficient against future attacks.

“The Kremlin can build new towers and cover factories with ‘Pantsirs,’ but this won’t save them from retribution,” the group stated, adding that “for every ‘Shahed’ launched at Ukraine, a just strike will come.”

The organization has called for intelligence regarding similar defensive installations, air defense systems, or military facilities in Russia and occupied territories, offering compensation for reliable information.

Yelabuga factory allegedly produces more than 5000 drones monthly

In July, Russian state media broadcast aired two propaganda films showcasing Geran-2 drone production and deployment capabilities, particularly at the Yelabuga manufacturing complex, positioned over 1,300 km (807 miles) from Ukrainian territory. 

Intelligence reports indicated the facility manufactures more than 5,000 Geran-2 units monthly, with 18,000 drones completed during the first six months of 2025.

The propaganda rollout followed Russia’s record-breaking single-day bombardment on July 9, when Moscow deployed 741 drones and missiles in a 24-hour period.

In the aftermath of the 24 August drone strike, the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara Oblast about 1,000 km from Ukraine is no longer operational due to the destruction of its most critical equipment. Russian Telegram channel Astra, citing sources in the emergency services, reported that the facility lost the AVT-6 primary processing unit, the L-35-6 secondary unit, and the pump station — all essential for continued refinery operations.

Core refinery units rendered inoperable

According to Astra, five drones exploded on site on 24 August, three of which directly struck key infrastructure. Five more drones were reportedly shot down on approach. No injuries were reported, as all 240 employees had sheltered during the attack.

Previous strike on Syzran refinery occurred weeks ago

The refinery, owned by Rosneft, is one of Samara Oblast’s largest oil-processing enterprises, producing a wide range of petroleum products and supplying fuel to central Russian oblasts and military units. Following earlier drone strikes on 15 August, the facility had already suffered major damage and had suspended crude oil intake and processing.

The 15 August attack struck the ELOU-AVT-6 unit, designed for desalting and primary crude oil distillation, and also damaged several storage tanks.

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Russia says 13 drones destroyed — but Syzran refinery burns and videos show fire raging at military-linked fuel plant

Systematic drone campaign deepens energy crisis

The refinery has also been targeted multiple times this year, with incidents in February and March causing fires. 

According to Reuters, Ukrainian drone strikes in August have disabled 17% of Russia’s oil refining capacity.

The situation has contributed to worsening fuel shortages across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Crimea, Zabaykalsky Krai, Vladivostok, Buryatia, and Primorsky Krai.

New details have emerged about the technical execution of the September 2022 Nord Stream pipeline attacks, with German investigators revealing that at least four explosive devices weighing 14 to 27 kilograms each were used to destroy the pipelines at depths of 70-80 meters in the Baltic Sea.

The explosive devices consisted of a mixture of RDX and HMX and were equipped with delayed-action detonators, according to the arrest warrant for Ukrainian suspect Serhii Kuznetsov obtained by Tagesschau. 

Ukrainian suspect arrested in Italy

German investigators believe the operation involved a six-person team comprising a skipper, four divers, and an explosives expert who coordinated the placement of the bombs on both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines.

Serhii Kuznetsov allegedly coordinated the entire mission. The 49-year-old Ukrainian—a former Security Service employee and retired Armed Forces captain—was arrested on 20 August at an Italian beach resort near Rimini where he was vacationing with his family.

When Italian police brought him to court in Bologna, handcuffed and flanked by three officers, Kuznetsov made a defiant gesture to waiting journalists. Three fingers. Ukraine’s trident symbol.

What investigators believe happened

Kuznetsov boarded the rented sailing yacht “Andromeda” from Wiek on Germany’s Rügen island, coordinated the team as they planted bombs on both Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, then departed on September 22. A driver picked him up and took him back to Ukraine. The remaining team members returned to Hohe Düne near Warnemünde—where they’d originally rented the boat.

How did German investigators crack the case? The investigation began in October 2022, with German Federal Criminal Police and Federal Police conducting underwater examinations using diving robots, collecting soil samples, and recovering pipeline fragments.

A breakthrough came through intelligence from a foreign service that led investigators to the “Andromeda” yacht, which had been rented in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania using false identities through a Polish shell company. When investigators examined it, they found fingerprints, DNA traces, and explosive residue. The evidence trail started there.

Italian media report that Kuznetsov’s lawyer has rejected the charges, and the suspect has refused to consent to extradition to Germany.

This represents the first arrest in what prosecutors call one of Europe’s most spectacular acts of sabotage. But it’s not the first suspect they’ve pursued.

Last year, German authorities tried to arrest another Ukrainian, Volodymyr Z., in Poland, who was allegedly involved as a diver in the operation. Despite having a European arrest warrant, he escaped—reportedly leaving in a Ukrainian diplomatic vehicle before Polish police could detain him. 

Zelenskyy denies government involvement

According to Wall Street Journal reporting from August 2024, the operation was planned by high-ranking Ukrainian military officials and businessmen using a recreational yacht and publicly available nautical charts. According to WSJ sources, President Zelenskyy initially approved the plan but later ordered then-Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi to halt it after CIA warnings. Zaluzhnyi allegedly ignored the order.

Zelenskyy has consistently denied government involvement in the attacks. But German investigators believe they’ve identified multiple suspects—Ukrainian civilians plus current and former military personnel.

Kuznetsov faces charges of “anti-constitutional sabotage,” “intentional causing of an explosion,” and “destruction of buildings”—potentially 15 years in prison. 

An Italian court will decide his fate. The key hearing is scheduled for next week.

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Idea that Ukraine involved in Nord Stream 2 blast “idiocy” – Ukraine’s Defense Minister

Ukrainian forces launched a coordinated drone assault on Russian territory overnight, targeting critical infrastructure including the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast and the Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast, according to regional governors.

Strategic port generating war funding revenue comes under attack

Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that air defenses allegedly destroyed 10 drones over the Ust-Luga port facility, located around 2000 km away from Kyiv, on the morning of 24 August.

This port serves as a crucial hub for Russia to bypass Western sanctions while exporting oil, gas, and coal that generate revenue for military operations. 

The attack resulted in debris causing a fire at a NOVATEK terminal, with Drozdenko stating that “firefighters and emergency services are working to extinguish the fire.”

A specialized fire train carrying over 183 tons of water and 5 tons of foam concentrate was dispatched to assist in firefighting operations, according to the October Railway company.

Oil refinery producing resources for Russian war effort faces repeated strikes

The Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast, over 1700 km away from Kyiv, came under drone attack, with local residents reporting approximately 20 explosions throughout the night.

Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev acknowledged the strike on what he termed “an industrial enterprise facility.”

This marks the fourth attack on the Syzran refinery in 2025, following previous strikes in February, March, and earlier in August.

Drone attack affects civilian flights

The overnight attacks caused significant disruptions to civilian air traffic, with Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg suspending aircraft operations.

The airport operated under imposed restrictions for approximately 18 hours, resulting in dozens of delayed flights and passengers sleeping on mats in terminal areas, according to the facility’s press service.

The Russian Defense Ministry subsequently reported that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones across 12 Russian regions, Tatarstan, and occupied Crimea during the night. Regional authorities reported no casualties from the attacks on both targeted facilities.

[Update as of 11 p.m. on 24 August]

The Ukrainian General Staff officially confirmed the coordinated attack on Ust-Luga port and the Syzran oil refinery.

The targeted Syzran refinery has a design capacity of 8.5 million tons of oil annually, representing approximately 3.08% of Russia’s total oil refining volume, and specializes in producing gasoline, diesel fuel, and aviation kerosene supplied directly to Russian occupying forces.

Ukrainian forces also struck a gas condensate fractionation and transshipment unit at the Ust-Luga marine terminal with a capacity of 6.9 million tons of raw materials per year.

The General Staff confirmed that Ust-Luga serves as “one of Russia’s key logistics hubs in the Baltic Sea, actively used for exporting energy resources using the so-called shadow fleet to bypass international sanctions.”