“Our goal is not only to prove the fact of the crime, but also to find the money obtained from it and return it to the state,” Ukraine’s newly appointed Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) director, Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi, said. He plans to transform the agency into a data-driven institution that targets billion-hryvnia schemes while creating equal conditions for domestic and foreign businesses.

In an exclusive interview for Euromaidan Press, Tsyvinskyi outlined his strategy to bring Ukraine’s shadow economy worth 600 billion to 1 trillion hryvnias ($14.6-24.4 billion) annually into legal channels.

“The key task is that every economic crime is committed to obtain money, hiding it to get more money. Accordingly, these funds are then converted into something else, i.e., laundered. Our goal is not only to prove the fact of the crime, but also to find the money obtained from it and return it to the state.”

The BEB investigates 32 types of offences, focusing on tax and budget crimes, smuggling, excise violations, including counterfeit cigarettes, alcohol, and fuel, illegal gambling, and international trade violations. Counterfeit cigarettes alone cost Ukraine 25 billion hryvnias ($604 million) in lost revenue, according to the director.

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers appointed anti-corruption detective Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi as director of the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) on 6 August, ending a month-long political standoff that threatened $2.3 billion in international aid, according to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The appointment resolves a crisis that risked Ukraine’s $15.6 billion IMF loan program, which included a 31 July deadline for naming a new BEB director. Tsyvinskyi won the official selection process in July, receiving unanimous support from the commission, yet the appointment stalled amid unsubstantiated “security concerns.”

The delay drew international criticism and jeopardised IMF funding as Ukraine missed the structural benchmark by a week. Under Ukrainian law, the Cabinet had ten working days to formalize the appointment after the selection commission’s decision.

Euromaidan Press spoke with Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi and found out how Ukraine’s new economic security chief plans to tackle the country’s trillion-hryvnia shadow economy, his vision for protecting foreign investments through fair competition, the political obstacles he overcame to secure his appointment amid IMF funding pressures, and the challenges in his first month in the position.

What are the biggest challenges in Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts?

Our role focuses on economic security. I see several key challenges.

First are internal problems. We face imperfect laws, delays in Cabinet decisions, failure to pass needed legislation, constant changes to government resolutions, and insufficient funding.

Second is confronting powerful groups. In our actual work, we’ll be going up against very well-resourced organizations.

Then there’s the judicial system problem. Regular courts are completely overwhelmed. I think major cases involving large sums—cases that need real expertise—should probably go to the High Anti-Corruption Court instead.

The best deterrent we can offer is making punishment inevitable. When we go after representatives of powerful organised groups with huge resources and media influence, they need to know they can’t escape consequences.

The High Anti-Corruption Court judges have the right expertise and training, while regular courts are swamped. Cases drag on for a year, statutes of limitations run out—it’s completely ineffective.

What is the Bureau of Economic Security? Why is the BEB’s work important?

The Bureau of Economic Security ensures that all businesses compete on equal terms and brings money from the shadow economy back into the state budget.

The BEB also creates fair competition for businesses. Take McDonald’s—they’re a law-abiding restaurant that pays all their taxes. But many similar establishments don’t pay properly. Naturally, these non-compliant businesses can offer lower prices and higher salaries to employees. Our job is to level the playing field.

Our goal is to build an institution that identifies problems analytically and encourages businesses to operate honestly through prevention. When prevention fails, we use criminal law enforcement.

What does Ukraine lose without an effective bureau?

With an effective BEB, businesses earn more, and the state collects more taxes.

Ukraine has enormous internal resources that can be brought back from the shadows. Various analytical centres estimate this at 600 billion to 1 trillion hryvnias ($14.6-24.4 billion) per year.

These internal capabilities would allow us to be more self-sufficient and use additional foreign aid for other purposes.

The Bureau’s second key function is investigating budget fund embezzlement. What are some examples?

Protecting budget funds is our direct responsibility. We handle cases involving 5 to 15 million hryvnias ($120,000 to $360,000). Unfortunately, such embezzlements are common.

For instance, funds might be allocated for school reconstruction, but contractors inflate material costs or work volumes and steal 10 million hryvnias ($240,000). This falls under our jurisdiction. We hold the guilty parties accountable and prosecute them in court.

We also monitor international technical assistance—ensuring that funds from foreign taxpayers are used properly in Ukraine and preventing their theft.

What risks did Ukraine face with the IMF and EU if the BEB reform had failed?

I know that funding was at risk. I’d rather not state the exact details to avoid errors, but it was declared that funds would be lost. Appointing the BEB head and rebooting the institution were key indicators for the IMF. Failure could have dealt a serious reputational blow to trust in Ukraine.

The government refused to appoint you as BEB director, citing “security assessments” from the SBU. Don’t you believe political motives, rather than security concerns, were behind rejecting your candidacy?

I won the competition on 26 June, but in August, the Cabinet of Ministers rejected the draft resolution for my appointment.

After the government changed, the new Prime Minister suggested I take a polygraph test. I thought about it, agreed, and took the test. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko then appointed me.

It’s hard for me to say definitively what the real reasons were. I work with facts. Some circumstances might suggest different interpretations, but as a lawyer, I can only confirm things when the facts are clearly established. Right now, I only have subjective assumptions, which wouldn’t be appropriate to share publicly.

If the government hadn’t changed, would the previous administration have eventually appointed you?

I think they would have. I’m not sure how it would have happened—whether through the same process or via a polygraph test. But I’m convinced the law would have been followed eventually. The only question was timing. You can spend years in court demanding legal compliance, but over time, the urgency of the issue fades.

Is the situation calm enough now for the BEB to work without obstacles? Is peace with politicians possible?

The Bureau is part of the government system and reports to Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers. We work with everyone, but we stick to clear principles. We’re building an organisation that benefits everyone—the Finance Ministry, the Cabinet, and businesses.

I think we’ll reach an understanding faster than we complete our staff re-certification. We’re starting to tackle major schemes, but results from this approach take time to show.

There are two ways to work: chase quick wins or build a solid foundation for real change. When we start going after powerful groups that stand to lose big money from bringing the shadow economy into the light, we’ll get more attention—and it won’t always be positive. They’ll try to find ways to stop us.

What mechanisms would you put in place to protect the BEB from political pressure?

Any kind of pressure could theoretically happen. Right now, there isn’t any. But if there is, we’ll push back and speak about it publicly.

The BEB has some built-in independence features. First is how we select our director and staff—through competitive processes.

Second, we have a special status that lets us operate differently from typical government agencies. We have more autonomy because our work requires it.

Since the BEB is a law enforcement agency, we’re not just another government department. We need protection, especially when it comes to funding.

It’s ironic—we’re supposed to create fair conditions for businesses, but we ourselves face very unfair conditions compared to other law enforcement agencies. You can’t expect outstanding results from an agency while underfunding it and creating discriminatory conditions.

You mentioned that the first thing you’ll do when you take office is change personnel: creating disciplinary and certification commissions, as well as a personnel selection commission. Besides this, what are your overall priorities as BEB director? What are the priority work areas?

The priority direction is building work in four sectors. One is law enforcement, and the other three are analytical sectors where we work with big data, identifying risks and trends.

The second sector is regulatory support – reviewing existing and new regulatory frameworks for risks. This is related to using analytical tools for preventing economic crimes.

Then there’s crime investigation across several areas: international technical assistance; controlled group; export-import operations and smuggling; taxes: local, state, and gambling business (which is quite problematic for us). And as a separate direction, money laundering.

We’re now creating a separate institute of financial investigators who will professionally handle this area of work. This is quite a specialised activity that has great significance for us.

The key task is that every economic crime is committed to obtain money, hiding it to get more money. Accordingly, these funds are then converted into something else, i.e., laundered. Our goal is not only to prove the fact of the crime, but also to find the money obtained from it and return it to the state.

What is the most problematic business? Are these the gambling, tobacco, and alcohol business spheres?

We divide the business into approximately three categories: black, grey, and white.

The most problematic are black businesses that produce goods completely illegally – no one pays any taxes, and no legal entity is registered. Grey business is when someone sells goods – partly legally, partly illegally. White business pays taxes and conscientiously fulfil all legal requirements.

In the black category, the most problematic is the excise group: tobacco, alcohol, and fuel. The gambling business is second. We separately identify smuggling.

Smuggling covers various goods – electronics, meat, milk, and other items or means. In this part, it doesn’t matter what kind of business it is. What’s important is that goods are moved in violation of the law without accounting and subsequent payment of corresponding taxes.

There’s another large block of taxes, where people evade paying them. Here, business spheres are extremely diverse – it can be anything.

For example, construction: instead of building according to the law, construction is carried out without registering a legal entity by an individual, thus not paying taxes. Entrepreneurial activity is carried out, but it’s disguised as another activity.

Another example is so-called business fragmentation. There’s a certain network that should be registered as a limited liability company or similar legal structure. But to minimise – so as not to pay income tax and social security contributions – they use individual entrepreneurs.

In reality, this is one organised structure that performs its work.

Therefore, by spheres, those I mentioned are the most problematic. And non-payment of taxes occurs in practically all types of business.

One of your main tasks is to create a level playing field for business. How will this affect the inflow of foreign investment?

Only developed countries have truly level playing fields for business. If you open a business in the Netherlands, USA, United Kingdom, or Germany, all government structures ensure that you operate legally—just like everyone else. You compete through creativity with other market participants.

I’ll give an example of a case I investigated with my team in my previous position. According to pre-trial investigation data, in Kyiv it was possible to buy a real estate property for 2 million hryvnias (over $48,000), pay 20 million hryvnias (over $480,000) in taxes, and for 22 million hryvnias (over $53,000) receive 3 hectares of land for development.

If this land were sold officially at auction, it would cost 500 million hryvnias ($12 mn). Imagine: a foreign investor comes, honestly buys this land at a competition for 500 million hryvnias ($12 mn), while next door another developer builds who received development rights for 20 million hryvnias ($480,000).

The foreign investor will never be able to properly compete with such a businessman. Our task is to eradicate such cases. This includes changes to Cabinet resolutions, possibly certain laws when we discover such schemes, as well as holding accountable those who distort competition.

Our key task is to make investors feel comfortable. An honest businessman can come to us and report problems. We work at the regulatory level, studying these problems.

You mentioned that BEB’s work will save Ukrainian lives. How is this connected?

I served on the front lines for a year on assignments. When a soldier is fully equipped, we don’t lose positions due to lack of shells or reconnaissance means. This is a matter of money. We lack them or don’t have enough.

Military salaries and motivational payments could be higher if funds were available. According to estimates by analytical unions that cooperate with official bodies, a huge amount of funds remains in the shadows.

Bringing them out of the shadows and directing them to defense means better provision for soldiers. Those who have better means of destruction and protection have significantly better chances of survival and more effective task execution.

In my view, military provision now directly correlates with its effectiveness.

Will you also deal with defence procurement?

Yes.

What constitutes victory for you? What indicator shows the results of the changes you’re working on?

Victory is a functioning institution with internal respect, where employees respect themselves and take pride in their work. Victory is when, according to defined indicators, we understand that we’re achieving our set tasks.

We face serious challenges. If we build a unified information system with neural networks, the agency’s activities will become transparent. Society will clearly understand where we spend funds, what we deliver, and how we measure it.

All internal activities—from organisational matters to determining investigation directions—will be built on algorithms. It’s important for me to create a system that is guided by data, not emotions.

If we can do this by the end of the term so that the institution functions properly, that will be a victory.

Are there known high-profile corruption schemes that haven’t been fully investigated yet?

Yes, we know of them.

Can you name them?

No. They haven’t been disclosed yet.

What sphere are these schemes in?

I can’t say. But we understand where, with proper application of efforts, results can be achieved.

To uncover big cases, you need a big team. And to build a team, you need to achieve compliance with the law regarding it. Justice cannot be built by a person who is treated unjustly.

When we build capabilities, we’ll be able to show results. But starting without resources is wrong. An employee fighting a billion-hryvnia scheme shouldn’t think about cheap products—they should think about how to bring billions to the budget.

Related:

US President Donald Trump called on European nations to immediately cease purchasing Russian energy resources during his address to the UN General Assembly, arguing that continued imports amount to funding Moscow’s war effort.

Trump referenced the Russia-Ukraine conflict midway through his speech, reiterating his claim that the war “would not have started if he had been president.” He identified cutting off Russia’s energy revenues as crucial for achieving peace and demanded full European cooperation on this issue.

“China and India are the main ‘financiers’ of this ongoing war – because they continue to buy Russian oil. But what cannot be justified – even some NATO countries still have not abandoned Russian energy resources,” Trump said. “I learned about this two weeks ago, and I didn’t like it. Think about it. They are financing a war against themselves.”

The president warned that if Russia fails to demonstrate readiness to negotiate an end to the war, the United States is prepared to implement “very strong, powerful tariffs that will stop the bloodshed, I believe, very quickly.”

However, Trump emphasized that European nations must join these efforts. “But for those tariffs to be effective, European states… must join us in adopting identical measures,” he said.

Trump highlighted the geographical reality facing European nations, noting they are “much closer to the threat, unlike America, which is on another continent.”

“They cannot do what they are doing. They buy oil and gas from Russia while fighting Russia… They must immediately stop any purchase of energy resources from Russia. Otherwise, we will lose a lot of time,” Trump said.

The American president announced plans to discuss this issue with European leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The statement comes as Hungary’s Foreign Minister recently reaffirmed that his country will not abandon Russian energy supplies despite Trump’s demands.

Three military-led African nations – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – have announced their immediate withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, according to BBC News. The countries issued a joint statement labeling the ICC an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression.”

“The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression,” the three leaders stated in their joint declaration.

The timing of the announcement draws attention given all three countries maintain close ties with Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin faces an ICC arrest warrant issued in 2023 over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The Hague-based court has not yet responded to the African nations’ decision.

The three states said they intend to establish “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice” as an alternative to the international court. Their criticism echoes longstanding accusations that the ICC disproportionately targets African nations – a charge previously leveled by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.

Since its establishment in 2002, the ICC has launched 33 cases, with all but one involving African countries. The court was created to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression.

Military juntas currently control all three withdrawing nations following coups between 2020 and 2023. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger constitute the only members of the Confederation of Sahel States. Their armed forces face accusations of crimes against civilians as violence has intensified in the region’s fight against jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

The withdrawal represents another coordinated break with international institutions. Earlier this year, the same three countries simultaneously left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after rejecting the regional bloc’s demands to restore democratic governance.

Russia has strengthened relationships with all three Sahel nations in recent years as they have become increasingly isolated from Western partners, particularly former colonial power France.

Under ICC statutes, a country’s withdrawal officially takes effect one year after the United Nations receives notification.

The Norwegian government disclosed that Russia breached the country’s airspace on three occasions this year, marking the first such incidents in over a decade, according to an official government statement.

The announcement came as NATO unanimously condemned Russian airspace violations against alliance members during a North Atlantic Council meeting on 23 September, convened at Estonia’s request following a 19 September incident.

“This year, in spring and summer, Russia violated Norway’s airspace three times,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. “The incidents in Norway are less extensive than violations against Estonia, Poland and Romania, both in terms of location and duration. However, we take these incidents very seriously.”

The three violations occurred on 25 April, 24 July, and 18 August, representing the first such breaches of Norwegian airspace in more than ten years, the government stated.

On 25 April, a Russian Su-24 fighter jet entered Norwegian airspace over maritime areas northeast of Vardø, remaining in Norwegian airspace for four minutes. The July incident involved a Russian L410 Turbolet aircraft flying over uninhabited territory along the border in the eastern part of Finnmark region for three minutes. In August, a Russian Su-33 fighter crossed through Norwegian airspace over maritime areas northeast of Vardø for one minute.

Following these incidents, Norwegian authorities engaged with Russian officials “directly and clearly” to discuss the violations “with the aim of reducing the risk of misunderstandings and escalation,” the government said.

The NATO meeting addressed what the alliance termed dangerous Russian airspace violations. During the UN Security Council session called over the Estonia incident, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper declared that “NATO is ready to respond” to Russian military aircraft violating alliance airspace.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called for more decisive NATO action in response to Russian airspace violations, including “neutralization of hostile targets.” Czech President Petr Pavel previously expressed his belief that NATO “should respond militarily” to Russian violations.

The Estonian incident prompted the North Atlantic Council session under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which allows members to request consultations when they believe their territorial integrity or security is threatened.

Ukrainian forces struck two Russian aircraft at a military airfield in occupied Crimea and targeted oil processing facilities in Russia during overnight operations on 23 September, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The strikes targeted infrastructure with strategic importance for Russian military operations. In particular, they hit the linear production dispatch station (LPDS) “8-N” in the area of Naytopovichy settlement, Russian Bryansk Oblast

The LPDS “8-N” forms part of the main oil pipeline complex connecting LPDS “8-N” to LPDS “Stalnoy Kon.” The General Staff described the facility as having “strategic significance for providing petroleum products to the Russian occupation army.” Ukrainian forces confirmed a direct hit on the pumping and compressor station, which subsequently caught fire.

Ukrainian unmanned systems also conducted a repeat strike on the “Samara” linear production dispatch station in Russia’s Samara Oblast. The General Staff identified this as “a production station where high-sulfur and low-sulfur oil from various fields is mixed to form the export grade Urals oil.” The extent of damage remains under assessment.

At the Kacha military airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea, units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense confirmed strikes on two aircraft. The General Staff reported that results of this operation are being clarified.

The operations occurred amid broader aerial activity, with dozens of drones attacking Moscow from the evening of 22 September through the night. Russia’s Sheremetyevo airport temporarily imposed flight restrictions during the attacks.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported at midnight that it had shot down 81 Ukrainian drones over territories including the Moscow Oblast, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Rostov, Ryazan, and Tula regions, as well as occupied Crimea and over the Black Sea.

Latvia plans to restore peat extraction sites along its eastern border as part of a defense strategy that would create natural barriers with Russia, the country’s Ministry of Defense announced.

The Baltic countries are reinforcing their borders with Russia to deter and defend against potential military threats from Russia and Belarus amid heightened regional security concerns.

The program involves restoring wetlands, water bodies, marsh areas, and forests on historically degraded peat extraction sites, according to the ministry. Officials believe the restoration will “reduce damage historically caused to natural resources” while serving military purposes.

“The restoration of wetland ecosystems not only contributes to conducting defensive operations, but also allows reducing material, technical and personnel resources,” the Ministry of Defense reported.

The initiative forms part of Latvia’s broader Baltic Defense Line construction project along the eastern border. The ministry emphasized focusing on “those historical peat extraction sites where the restoration of wetland ecosystems will most directly contribute to the construction of the Baltic Defense Line on the eastern border.”

Local authorities plan to finance the marsh restoration using European Union funds, the ministry reported. The dual-purpose approach combines environmental restoration with strategic defense planning, creating natural obstacles that could complicate potential military movements across the border.

The restored wetlands would serve as both ecological rehabilitation zones and defensive terrain features, according to the ministry’s assessment of the program’s military and environmental benefits.

A 30-year-old man from Uttarakhand who traveled to Russia for university studies has allegedly been forced into the Russian army and deployed to Ukraine, with his family losing contact since early September, according to a Times of India report.

Rakesh Kumar left his village of Kushmoth in Udham Singh Nagar district on 7 August after securing admission to St. Petersburg University on a study visa. Within weeks, his situation had deteriorated dramatically, his family says.

“The last time they had a direct conversation was on 30 August, when Rakesh informed them that he had been forcibly drafted into the Russian army and would soon be deployed to the war zone in Ukraine,” the Times of India reported. After that call, his phone became unreachable.

The family later received a photograph showing Kumar in Russian military uniform, which “only heightened their fears and confirmed their worst suspicions,” according to the report.

Kumar managed one final call from an unfamiliar Russian number, telling his family that authorities had seized his passport and personal documents, deleted his official emails, and forced him through military training in the Donbas region before battlefield deployment.

“We do not even know if he is alive. We just want the governmentt to bring him back home safely,” his elder brother Deepu Maurya told the newspaper.

The family wrote to India’s Ministry of External Affairs on 5 September and has contacted the Indian embassy in Moscow, elected representatives, and local officials seeking help.

The Times of India reports this marks at least the 21st such case in recent months, with most previous victims coming from Punjab and Haryana. These individuals “claimed they were tricked into going to Russia on the pretext of education or employment, only to be coerced into joining Russian military,” according to the report.

Kumar’s case follows the same pattern: arrival for legitimate purposes, rapid conscription, confiscation of documents, and deployment to active combat zones.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is leveraging arms control proposals to pressure the Trump administration into negotiations aimed at securing concessions on Ukraine, according to a new assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Putin claimed that US implementation of his New START initiative, combined with “the entire range of efforts to normalize bilateral relations,” could create an atmosphere “conducive to substantive strategic dialogue” with the United States, ISW reported. The institute forecasted in August 2025 that Russia would pursue this strategy of dangling bilateral arms control talks to advance its objectives in Ukraine.

ISW assesses that the Kremlin is using the prospect of strategic negotiations to “secure Russia’s desired demands in Ukraine and deflect from Russia’s responsibility for the lack of progress in Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.” The Russian government has manufactured escalatory moves in recent months, including withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in August 2025, to coerce the Trump administration into arms control discussions.

This marks a continuation of Putin’s previous tactics linking arms control to Ukraine policy. In February 2023, Putin suspended Russia’s participation in New START in direct response to Western military aid to Ukraine. Putin’s 22 September statements represent an attempt to position himself as Trump’s equal and present Russia as a global power comparable to the United States, according to ISW.

The institute reported that Putin has consistently worked to posture Russia as inheriting the Soviet Union’s superpower status since Trump’s January 2025 inauguration. These efforts serve to reinforce what ISW characterizes as the Kremlin’s “false narrative that a Russian victory in Ukraine is inevitable,” pressuring Ukraine and Western allies to accept Russia’s maximalist demands rather than face escalating aggression.

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi conducted a phone conversation with Romanian Armed Forces Defense Staff Chief General Gheorghiță Vlad, focusing on coordinated responses to Russian aerial threats crossing the Ukrainian-Romanian border.

The Ukrainian military leader briefed his Romanian counterpart on “the current situation in combat areas and key needs of Ukraine’s Armed Forces,” according to Syrskyi’s Telegram announcement.

The commanders addressed “issues of mutual interest, particularly regarding joint counteraction to threats related to the crossing of the Ukrainian-Romanian border by air attack means of the aggressor country,” according to the statement.

Syrskyi expressed gratitude for Romania’s military assistance to Ukrainian forces. “I thanked General Gheorghiță Vlad on behalf of Romania’s leadership and the entire Romanian people for steadfast political support of Ukraine and military aid to our state, long-term cooperation in the interests of Ukraine’s defense and protection of democracy in Europe and the world,” the commander said.

The conversation follows recent high-level defense coordination between the two nations. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denis Shmygal met with Romanian Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Liviu-Ionuț Moșteanu in Kyiv, where officials agreed to strengthen coordination between their air forces.

Romania demonstrated this coordination in August when it scrambled F-16 fighters in response to Russian attacks on southern Ukrainian regions, according to the report.

The discussion comes amid broader regional security concerns. Polish and Ukrainian General Staff chiefs recently established information-sharing protocols for air threats after Russian drones violated Polish airspace on 10 September, Apostrophe reports.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ukraine’s 2026 state budget draft allocates a record 955 billion hryvnias ($23 bn) for weapons procurement and production, representing one-third of all defense spending, according to Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the parliamentary Budget Committee.

The “Servant of the People” MP announced on Facebook that total defense expenditures will reach 2.8 trillion hryvnias in 2026, marking the fifth wartime budget since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

“More than half of the expenditures – about 45% – is the planned monetary provision for military personnel. A record 955 billion hryvnias (one third of all defense funds) is planned to be directed to the procurement and production of weapons,” Pidlasa wrote.

Ukraine finances its defense spending through domestic revenues and borrowings, as international partners do not allow their aid to be used for weapons purchases, with Britain being the sole exception.

“At the same time, all non-military expenditures are in the sphere of the state budget deficit. The need for international financing is $45.5 billion, of which $18 billion is an uncovered need,” the committee head said.

The borrowing requirement stems from Ukraine dedicating approximately 60% of its budget to defense needs.

“We will be giving every hryvnia earned and borrowed in Ukraine to national security and defense needs next year, because currently international partners do not allow us to use the money they give to the budget for weapons purchases and monetary provision for military personnel,” Pidlasa explained.

This financial strain continues to increase the national debt burden. “As a result, the state debt continues to grow and by the end of next year may reach 101.6% of forecast GDP (compared to 43.3% in 2021). This situation will persist until the end of active hostilities, while we will be directing about 60% of our budget to defense,” according to Pidlasa.

The MP called on fellow parliamentarians to exercise restraint in their budget proposals to avoid further increasing the deficit during the budget review process.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that assault troops will soon be legally established as a separate branch of the Armed Forces, according to Suspilne media.

Speaking to journalists, Zelenskyy said that assault battalions and regiments formed in 2025 have demonstrated “good results.” However, Russian forces decided to copy this system, which contributed to the decision to formalize assault troops legally.

“We will now create separate assault troops, this decision has been made. Everything is being prepared now, and I think in about a week to ten days, everything will be working,” Zelenskyy said. “Modern assault troops with a drone component, with everything else. Of course, they work together today, assault regiments with the Airborne Assault Forces perform joint tasks.”

The president said that preparations are currently underway to announce this decision officially.

Recently, Hero of Ukraine Colonel Valentyn Manko was appointed to head the assault troops management within the Armed Forces structure. Previously, he commanded the 33rd Assault Regiment.

The formalization represents a significant restructuring of Ukraine’s military organization, elevating what began as battalion and regiment formations into a distinct military branch with specialized capabilities including integrated drone operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine has increased its use of long-range drones for strikes on Russian oil refineries, attributing recent successes to higher daily deployment numbers, Suspilne reported on 20 September.

“Regarding oil refineries: we have drones, we know how to produce them. Everything depends on the number of drones we use per day. I think, based on the results of recent operations, it’s clear that we started using more drones,” Zelenskyy told journalists.

The president acknowledged current production levels remain below his targets for manufacturers and the Ministry of Defense. “As soon as the number of drones becomes comparable to the ‘Russians’ – they will feel it through fuel shortages, through the number of queues at gas stations. We see this more and more. A little more is reaching the target,” he said.

Zelenskyy identified funding as the primary constraint on expanding drone operations. Ukraine’s long-range drone production has reached a level where “everything depends exclusively on financing this weapon,” according to the president.

Beyond oil infrastructure, Ukraine targets military facilities with long-range drones. “Military facilities, warehouses – this is constant destruction on temporarily occupied territory and on Russian territory, where their drones are stored. This also has an impact,” Zelenskyy explained.

Recent strikes demonstrate the expanded drone campaign’s reach. On 18 September, Special Operations Forces attacked the Volgograd refinery, forcing it to halt operations. Overnight 19-20 September, Ukrainian forces struck refineries in Russia’s Saratov and Samara oblasts.

Since August, Kyiv has intensified attacks on Russian energy assets, seeking to disrupt Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine and reduce Kremlin revenues as peaceful negotiation attempts have stalled.

Ukrainian drones achieved a milestone on 13 September, striking Russia’s largest oil port “Primorsk” for the first time since the 2022 war began, temporarily halting operations there.

The campaign’s impact extends beyond individual facilities. Reuters reported, citing three industry sources, that Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft warned producers they may need to reduce extraction following Ukrainian drone attacks on key export ports and refineries.

Estonia’s Ministry of Defence released a map illustrating the violation of the country’s airspace by three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets on 19 September, according to the ministry’s social media posts. The aircraft entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission and remained there for 12 minutes.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the jets entered Estonian airspace and lingered over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes. The ministry reports that the Russian fighters flew parallel to the state border from east to west, then entered the airspace to a depth of less than 10 kilometers with transponders off and without radio communication. NATO aviation escorted the aircraft.

Prior to this incident, Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that on 19 September, three MiG-31 aircraft flew from Russian Karelia to an airfield in Kaliningrad Oblast “without violating the borders of other states.”

Moscow maintained that the aircraft route passed over neutral waters, contradicting what Estonia’s Defence Ministry map shows.

Defence Minister Margus Tsahkna said that Russia has already violated Estonia’s airspace four times this year, calling such actions “unacceptable,” but described the incursion of three fighters as “unprecedentedly brazen.” Following the incident, Estonia’s government requested NATO to invoke Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Additionally, Poland reported that on 19 September, two Russian fighters violated the security zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed strikes on strategic facilities in Russia’s Samara and Saratov oblasts that support Russian military operations, according to an official statement on 20 September. The operations were conducted by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and Special Operations Forces.

The Saratov oil refinery in Saratov city sustained damage from the attack, with explosions and fires reported at the facility. The refinery processes approximately 2.54% of Russia’s total oil refining capacity, handling over 7 million tons of crude oil annually, the General Staff reported.

Ukrainian forces also targeted the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara Oblast, where explosions and fires were confirmed. This facility processes over 8.8 million tons of crude oil per year.

The operations extended to critical infrastructure, with Special Operations Forces striking the Samara Linear Production Dispatch Station in Prosvet, Samara Oblast. This facility handles the mixing of high- and low-sulfur crude oil from various fields to create the Urals export grade, accounting for up to 50% of Russia’s total oil exports.

“All targeted facilities are involved in supporting the Russian armed forces,” the General Staff reported in their statement.

Local Russian officials acknowledged the attacks but provided limited details. Saratov Oblast Governor Roman Busargin said that a residential building was damaged and one person was injured during the attack on Saratov.

Flight restrictions were imposed at Samara airport due to drone threats, with limitations on aircraft arrivals and departures implemented as a precautionary measure.

The strikes represent the latest in a series of Ukrainian operations targeting Russian energy infrastructure. The Novokuybyshevsk refinery has been hit multiple times by Ukrainian drones in previous operations.

Russian regional governors in Volgograd and Rostov also reported drone activity. Volgograd Oblast Governor Andrey Bocharov said drone debris fell in several districts of the regional center and one district of the oblast, with no casualties reported. Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar claimed the drone attack was repelled, though private homes and agricultural enterprises sustained damage, along with grass fires and power outages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia launched a massive overnight attack using 40 missiles and approximately 580 drones against Ukrainian targets, with F-16 fighter jets playing a key role in the country’s defense.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces deployed 619 air attack assets: 579 Shahed-type strike drones and various decoy drones, 8 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 32 Kh-101 cruise missiles.

“Each such strike is not a military necessity, but a conscious strategy of Russia to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure. That is why a strong international response is needed,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 583 aerial targets, including 552 Russian drones, 2 ballistic missiles, and 29 cruise missiles, according to the Air Force. The defense forces recorded direct hits at 10 locations, with debris from destroyed targets falling at additional sites.

Russian forces regularly attack Ukrainian oblasts using various weapons including strike drones, missiles, guided aerial bombs, and multiple rocket launcher systems. Russia’s leadership denies that its military deliberately targets civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian cities and villages during the full-scale war, killing civilians and destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy facilities, and water supply systems.

Ukrainian authorities and international organizations qualify these strikes as war crimes by the Russian Federation, emphasizing their deliberate nature

Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian military personnel, particularly F-16 fighter pilots, “who once again proved their skill and worked effectively in defending Ukraine from cruise missiles.”

The attack targeted Ukrainian infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises, according to Zelenskyy.

In Dnipro, a Russian missile with cluster munitions directly hit a multi-story residential building. Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak confirmed one fatality and 26 injuries in the oblast, with 14 people requiring hospitalization, including a 55-year-old man with burns covering 70% of his body.

Khmelnytskyi Governor Serhii Tiurin reported finding the body of a man in his 50s in a home after firefighters extinguished a blaze, with two others injured in the oblast.

In Kyiv Oblast, the State Emergency Service reported car fires at a parking lot near a multi-story building in Bucha district, and a fire with partial destruction of a private residential house in Obukhiv district. The regional military administration confirmed strikes in Bucha, Boryspil, and Obukhiv communities, damaging a home, 10 garages, and five parked cars.

Mykolaiv faced attacks from both ballistic missiles and drones targeting industrial infrastructure, with ongoing firefighting efforts, according to local reports. Drones also struck a farm in Sniguriv community, causing fires there as well.

Odesa Oblast emergency services reported a warehouse fire at a farm facility and destruction of an agricultural equipment storage building.

The attack affected multiple oblasts including Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, and communities in Poltava, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts. Overall casualty reports indicate dozens of injured and three fatalities from the assault.

The assault triggered air raid alerts across all Ukrainian oblasts around 5:45 am local time, lasting until approximately 7 am Initial explosions occurred in Pavlohrad and Mykolaiv around 4:40 am, with additional blasts in Dnipro after 6 a.m.

During the attack, Poland’s Air Force scrambled NATO fighter jets to protect Polish airspace. The incident follows recent violations of NATO airspace, including Russian drones over Polish territory and Estonian airspace violations that prompted Estonia to request NATO Article 4 consultations.

Ukraine and Poland have agreed to establish a joint operational group on unmanned aerial systems, with representatives from both countries’ armed forces, Interfax-Ukraine reported on 18 September.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced the agreement during a press conference in Kyiv with his Polish counterpart Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who arrived on an unannounced visit.

“Today we agreed on a number of important steps. First – the creation of a joint operational group on unmanned aerial systems, which will include representatives of Ukrainian and Polish armed forces,” Shmyhal said.

The group will serve as a platform for coordination and development of joint initiatives, according to the Ukrainian minister. “We will integrate the latest defense technologies and initiate new projects that should strengthen the protection of our people and our critical infrastructure,” he stated.

Joint training programs will form the central element of this operational group. “…Which, I am confident, will strengthen our ability to resist a common enemy,” Shmyhal added.

Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the signing of an agreement on acquiring drone operation skills during his Kyiv visit. “Discussions will focus on developing joint industrial initiatives. I think Poles are looking forward to this after such large-scale efforts aimed at helping the population,” the Polish minister said.

Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that implementing lessons learned from the Ukrainian battlefield is crucial for transforming Poland’s Armed Forces and NATO as a whole. He noted “obvious openness and readiness for cooperation” from the Ukrainian side.

The Polish minister addressed bilateral tensions directly: “I realize the emotions that sometimes arise between us, between Poland and Ukraine, but they should not overshadow our strategic goal. The enemy is elsewhere. It should not be sought within ourselves, among ourselves.”

The agreement represents a step toward deeper defense cooperation between the two countries, with focus on drone technology and joint military training programs.

Tanks from Ukraine’s 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade completely destroyed a building occupied by Russian infantry in a close-range engagement, the Third Army Corps press service reported on 18 September.

Russian forces had fortified themselves in an abandoned residential building in one of the settlements within the corps’ area of responsibility.

“For the defeat of enemy forces, a tank from one of the battalions was deployed: the combat vehicle approached point-blank to the structure and opened aimed fire,” the press service said.

The precise shots completely destroyed the building along with the Russian assault troops positioned inside, according to the military report.

The engagement highlights the operational methods of the Third Army Corps, which incorporates the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade as its core unit. The formation also includes the 53rd, 60th, and 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As of early August, the corps has taken up a section of the front in Luhansk Oblast, where it simultaneously confronts three Russian armies – the 1st Tank Army and the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the Russian Federation, the press service reports.

The tank engagement demonstrates the tactical approach employed by Ukrainian armored units in urban combat situations where Russian forces attempt to establish defensive positions in civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian drones struck a Russian Sopka-2 radar complex in Voronezh Oblast on September 16, damaging the antenna of the long-range surveillance system located more than 170 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, according to ASTRA media outlet.

The attack targeted the tracking radar complex near Garmashevka village in the Kantemirovka district, with one drone detonating and causing damage to the Sopka-2 antenna system, ASTRA reports. Voronezh Oblast Governor Pavel Gusev confirmed the attack occurred but claimed “the drone was destroyed.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported shooting down one drone over the region, following its standard practice of announcing successful intercepts.

The Sopka-2 represents a three-coordinate radar system capable of surveillance within a 450-kilometer radius, designed to detect aircraft and determine their range and altitude. The complex operates in all weather conditions, including winds up to 40 meters per second and temperatures as low as -40°C, according to technical specifications.

The strike follows a pattern of Ukrainian forces targeting Russian radar installations. Days earlier, Ukrainian drones destroyed a Russian RLK-1 “Navigation of the South” radar complex in Rostov Oblast, deployed at a former air defense military unit.

Ukrainian Defense Forces have intensified strikes against Russian radar stations in recent months, seeking to degrade radar coverage in specific areas, particularly around temporarily occupied Crimea. On September 5, Ukrainian drone operators struck Russian air defense radars “Podlyot” and “Nebo-M” on the peninsula.

The Sopka-2 operates as an S-band ground-based air surveillance radar with a range of approximately 450 kilometers, according to manufacturer specifications. The system serves to collect, consolidate and analyze data on air situation awareness for Russian military operations.

The attack demonstrates the expanding reach of Ukrainian drone capabilities, with the strike occurring at significant distance from the border and targeting critical radar infrastructure used for early warning and air defense coordination.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared on 16 September that territorial exchanges will not “stop” Russia’s war in Ukraine, directly contradicting recent statements by US President Donald Trump that peace would require “land swaps” between the warring nations, Russian state media TASS reported on 17 September

Speaking on 17 September, Lavrov dismissed proposals to restore US-Russian trade as an incentive for peace, stating such attempts to “entice” President Vladimir Putin would not end the war. The foreign minister reiterated Moscow’s position that any settlement must eliminate what the Kremlin calls the “root causes” of the war.

These root causes, as defined by Kremlin officials, include Ukraine’s alleged discrimination against Russian-speakers and NATO expansion. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Moscow has repeatedly used this “root causes” framework to demand the replacement of Ukraine’s current government with a Russian puppet regime, Ukraine’s commitment to neutrality, and the revocation of NATO’s Open Door Policy.

Despite the hardline stance from Lavrov, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov maintained on the same day that Russia remains open to negotiations, claiming Moscow’s “preferred solution” is a political and diplomatic settlement, according to ISW.

The ISW assessed that Russia shows no interest in good-faith negotiations requiring Russian concessions and remains willing to protract the war to achieve its original maximalist war demands through military means rather than diplomacy.

Lithuanian prosecutors and the Criminal Police Bureau have uncovered a group that organized and planned to carry out four terrorist attacks across European countries, with explosives hidden in massage pillows and delivered through DHL and DPD shipping services.

The investigation revealed that on 19 July 2024, Lithuanian citizen AS (born 1973), working with accomplices, used international delivery services to send homemade incendiary explosive devices. Two packages were addressed to the United Kingdom and sent on DHL cargo planes, while two others were sent to Poland via DPD cargo trucks.

The attacks unfolded over three days in July 2024. The first package exploded and ignited at Leipzig Airport in Germany at 05:45 on 20 July, just before loading onto a DHL cargo plane flying the Vilnius-Leipzig-United Kingdom route. A second package detonated at 02:15 on 21 July in a DPD truck traveling through Poland. The third exploded at 03:36 on 22 July at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The fourth package, transported by DPD ground transport through Poland, failed to detonate due to a malfunction in the detonation mechanism.

Investigators determined that the devices were controlled by electronic timers hidden inside massage pillows. Additional flammable mixtures were concealed in hygiene and cosmetic tubes to enhance the incendiary effect. The devices used thermite, an industrial and military substance with extremely high combustion temperatures.

Given the case’s significance and the goal of committing terrorist attacks across multiple countries, Eurojust established a joint investigation team. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies from Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia, the United States, and Canada are cooperating closely in the investigation.

The investigation established that Russian Federation citizens organized and coordinated these crimes, with connections to Russian military intelligence. Several coordinators were directly linked to an attempted terrorist attack on 9 May 2024, in Vilnius, when the IKEA shopping center was set on fire.

Two key suspects were identified: Ukrainian citizen Danylo Hromov (born 1988), who also uses personal data of Russian citizen Yaroslav Mikhailov (born 1988), and Tomas Dovgan Stabachinskas (born 1971), who holds both Lithuanian and Russian citizenships.

The investigation revealed that other citizens of Lithuania, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine were recruited for specific tasks during the attack preparation. They were found through acquaintances, recruited and maintained contact through the Telegram app, with payment offered in cryptocurrency.

The group operated with strict conspiracy protocols, fragmenting tasks among different executors who were typically unconnected to each other. Tasks included transporting packages and flammable substances, transferring them to other participants, hiding them in caches, and activating devices.

More than 30 searches were conducted in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, and Estonia. During the comprehensive investigative actions, authorities seized explosive substances hidden in tin cans and detonators from illegal circulation. Some devices were manufactured to produce a directed explosion effect using RDX explosive. The total power of the seized devices exceeded 6 kilograms in TNT equivalent. According to the data, these devices could have been intended for other terrorist attacks.

At this stage of the pre-trial investigation, suspicions for organizing and preparing the specified crimes have been presented to a total of 15 suspects – citizens of the Russian Federation, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine.

European Union member states have unanimously agreed to open negotiations with Canada and the United Kingdom on accessing the bloc’s €150 billion defense investment fund, the Danish EU presidency announced.

The decision to begin talks on the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program was reached without opposition. If agreements are finalized, British and Canadian companies could participate in joint procurement funded through SAFE, supplementing recently signed security and defense partnerships between the EU and both countries.

The move comes as other non-EU nations seek entry into the program. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whose country aspires to EU membership, told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels on 17 September that he wanted to discuss how Albania could gain SAFE access, Bloomberg reports. Türkiye and South Korea have also requested access to the credit fund.

On 9 September, the EU allocated the €150 billion in SAFE defense credits among 19 countries, with Poland receiving nearly one-third of the funding. Interested countries must submit official applications with investment plans by 30 November 2025. The first credits are expected in early 2026.

The SAFE program was created in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need to strengthen European defense. It provides member states with long-term, low-interest loans for defense equipment purchases.

Currently, funds are primarily available to companies from EU member countries, while Ukraine holds special status — it cannot receive direct credits but can participate in joint procurement.

Ukraine hopes the EU rearmament program will cover shortfalls in domestic financing for Ukrainian manufacturers starting in early 2026.

Russian forces targeted railway infrastructure and civilian facilities across Ukraine during overnight strikes on 17 September, leaving six people injured at a gas station in Poltava Oblast and disrupting train schedules nationwide.

The attack on a gas station in Poltava district injured “five drivers and a female employee,” according to the Poltava Oblast Prosecutor’s Office. The female worker remains in critical condition, while all victims were hospitalized following the strike.

Railway operations faced significant disruption after Russian forces “attacked railway infrastructure in the Myrhorod district of Poltava Oblast,” reported regional administration head Kohut. The strikes caused power outages across several sections, forcing Ukrzaliznytsia to deploy backup diesel locomotives.

Four passenger trains experienced delays of up to three hours:

“As of 07:00, damage has been localized and power has been restored – trains (including suburban electric trains) will continue to operate normally,” Ukrzaliznytsia announced.

The railway attack sparked fires that were “localized by emergency services units,” with one person injured in the incident, Kohut confirmed.

Russian strike drones also hit Poltava district directly, damaging “the building of a gas station,” according to the prosecutor’s office. Authorities opened criminal proceedings under Article 438 Part 1 of the Criminal Code for war crimes, carrying penalties of 8-12 years imprisonment.

The overnight assault extended to Kyiv Oblast, where regional head Mykola Kalashnyk reported fires in two districts. “In Boryspil district, warehouse facilities caught fire. In Bucha district, a fire broke out in a private house,” he said. Emergency services contained both blazes with no preliminary casualties reported.

The large-scale attack began at 9 pm on 17 September, with Russia launching “75 strike drones of Shahed, Gerbera and other types from the directions: Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk,” according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Over 40 of the attacking drones were Shaheds.

“Ukrainian Defense Forces’ aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups” repelled the air attack, the Air Force reported.

By 9 am on 18 September, air defenses had “shot down/suppressed 48 Russian drones of Shahed, Gerbera and other types in the north, east and center of the country.” One Russian drone remained airborne at the time of the morning report.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have received a fresh delivery of Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers manufactured in Latvia, according to Latvia’s Ministry of Defense. The shipment included additional equipment for Ukrainian military personnel.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds emphasized his country’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s fight for independence.

“Latvia continues to support Ukraine in its struggle for independence and will do so for as long as necessary,” Spruds said, highlighting that the Patria armored vehicles will enhance Ukraine’s capabilities against Russian aggression.

The Latvian Defense Ministry noted the strategic value of the deployment: “In the hands of Ukrainian defenders, these Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers will be used in the most difficult combat conditions. This will also allow us to gain valuable experience to strengthen Latvia’s defense.”

Latvia responded to Ukraine’s request in February this year by ordering the Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers specifically for Ukrainian forces. Riga plans to deliver 42 such vehicles to Kyiv, along with additional military equipment, according to the Defense Ministry.

The delivery forms part of a broader international cooperation framework. Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany signed a joint agreement on 30 August 2021, for the procurement of Patria 6×6 armored vehicles under an intergovernmental program. The agreement covers orders for more than 200 units.

Previous reports indicate that the first vehicles from Latvia were already delivered to Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces.

The Patria 6×6 armored personnel carrier represents a modern multi-purpose combat vehicle developed by Finnish company Patria. The vehicle is designed for personnel transport and combat operations at the front line.

According to specifications, the armor meets STANAG 4569 standards and protects crew members from small arms fire, artillery shell fragments, and mine explosions. The vehicle’s powerful engine and independent wheel suspension enable it to traverse difficult terrain and water obstacles while reaching speeds up to 100 km/h on roads. The operational range extends to 700 kilometers without refueling.

Alex Babich, a 47-year-old Ukrainian immigrant, has set a Guinness World Record by growing a sunflower that reached 35 feet and 9 inches in his Fort Wayne, Indiana backyard.

The flower, nicknamed “Clover,” was officially measured and confirmed as the world’s tallest sunflower on 3 September, according to Guinness World Records.

The record-breaking sunflower surpassed the previous world record holder in Germany by 5 feet. Babich grew Ukraine’s national flower as a tribute to his homeland, which has been devastated by Russia’s invasion since 2022.

“I’m going to die someday, but the stories of this flower will live on,” Babich said. “My kids will be telling this story to the grandkids.”

Babich, who works as a landscape gardener, seed seller, and outdoor gear designer, immigrated to the United States at age 14 following the Chernobyl disaster. He began growing sunflowers seven years ago as a symbol of love for his home country.

The sunflower earned its nickname from Babich’s 10-year-old son, who would climb scaffolding around the plant and place four-leaf clovers on its leaves for good luck. Babich described the plant with paternal affection: “It’s one of my kids. You’re out there every day taking care of it.”

The official measurement drew a crowd of approximately 85 people, including master gardeners from a local university and representatives from the Allen County Department of Weights and Measures. A 40-foot cherry picker was used to measure the towering plant while Babich spoke by phone with Guinness World Records representatives and camera crews documented the event.

Babich’s first attempt at growing giant sunflowers seven years ago produced a 13-foot-tall plant. The current world record flower represents years of experimentation. “The record-breaking flower was the result of trial and error over the years,” Babich said.

His motivation for growing sunflowers intensified after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “We just pray that the war will end, that the killing will stop,” Babich said. “We just hope this inspires some people in the right places. It’s been long enough.”

The achievement will be featured in a documentary titled “Bloom,” scheduled for release this summer. For Babich, who describes himself as someone who grows giants, the record represents a personal milestone: “It’s very emotional. It’s as good as it gets for someone who grows giants.”

Russian forces struck an educational facility in Kharkiv’s Slobidskyi district with a drone on Tuesday morning, hitting the roof of the building and injuring several people, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and emergency services.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that “Russian forces struck an educational facility in the Slobidskyi district of the city with a UAV in the morning. About 2 women were injured. As a result of the hit, the roof of the facility building was damaged, and a fire broke out over an area of 150 square meters.”

Mayor Terekhov reported 4 people injured in the attack. The prosecutor’s office released video footage capturing the moment of impact on the educational facility.

“It was a strike drone. In the video it might seem like it’s not a drone, but that’s just the angle. A UAV, if you look at it from the side, is not wide but rather flat. Plus there are collected fragments. According to preliminary data, these are parts of a ‘Geran-2’ type drone,” said Valeriia Chirina, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, in comments to Ukrainska Pravda.

According to Suspilne media, the Russians struck the administrative building of the Pharmaceutical University. Vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work Oleksandra Kukhtenko said that employees who were inside the building went down to shelter during the air raid alert, so they were not wounded.

An analysis of over 100 Russian propaganda telegram channels revealed coordinated efforts to exploit the assassination of former Ukrainian parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy, with identical narratives appearing across pro-Russian social media accounts commenting on Ukrainian YouTube videos, according to research by Texty.org.ua.

The study identified 380 messages about Parubiy’s murder across Russian propaganda channels, with 231 publications containing “insults, joy, propaganda clichés, and fakes,” while 149 provided dry informational reports about the killing and investigation status.

Former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed in Lviv on 30 August. 

The 54-year-old politician served as Speaker of Ukraine’s parliament from April 2016 to August 2019 and played a key role during the 2014 Ukrainian revolution as Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council. 

Parubiy gained prominence during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests as commandant of the tent camp and head of self-defense detachments. During the February 2014 revolution, after the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, Parubiy led forces that took control of the government quarter in Kyiv, including the Verkhovna Rada, Presidential Administration, Cabinet of Ministers, and Interior Ministry buildings.

Russian propaganda portrayal

For Russian propagandists, Parubiy embodied “everything bad in this world,” described as a “black politician, primary enemy of Russians in Ukraine, Maidan ideologue, [supporter of] all these wild slogans ‘hang the Moskals’.”

Russian channels labeled him an “ideological backbone of this terror formation,” “Maidan instigator,” “inciter of interethnic hatred,” and “one of the founding fathers of the Nazi regime.”

Maidan organizer narrative

Russian propaganda emphasized Parubiy’s role as “one of the main organizers of Euromaidan” and “Maidan commandant,” making him responsible for the “state coup in Ukraine.”

According to their narrative, Parubiy “brought snipers to Ukrainian Maidan in 2014,” with claims that “police and protesters at Maidan were shot from the philharmonic hall — Parubiy was responsible for the building.”

Odesa “organizer” claims

A recurring theme claimed Parubiy organized the 2 May 2014 Trade Unions House fire in Odesa: “He will remain as complicit in organizing the Odesa Khatyn and mass murders at Maidan.”

Russian channels alleged he attempted to cover up the “truth” by creating a journalist group codenamed “May 2”: “Under the guarantee of the ex-speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, they created a group of biased journalists under the unofficial name ‘Second of May.'”

War criminal accusations

Propaganda channels branded Parubiy a “war criminal” who “directly coordinated the use of the army against the civilian population of Donbas in 2014.”

They claimed “Parubiy repeatedly stated the need for forceful suppression of Donbas following the model of the Croatian operation ‘Storm.'”

Murder theories deflecting Russian involvement

Russian propagandists promoted multiple contradictory theories while denying Moscow’s involvement: “Russia was completely uninterested in Parubiy 11 years after Maidan. With such a motive, he should have been eliminated during Maidan.”

However, the lexicon suggested Russian involvement through terms like “liquidation,” “destruction,” and “denazification” rather than “murder”: “The liquidation of Andriy Parubiy became revenge against one of the direct perpetrators of the Odesa tragedy.”

One propaganda channel summarized the campaign: “Officially Russia will deny its involvement in the liquidation of the terrorist, unofficially ours are already congratulating each other.”

Political conspiracy theories

The primary target of blame was President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “This is not an investigation, but a pathetic setup. They framed a random person, called him a killer and closed the case. The real customers are at Bankova [presidential office].”

Propagandists suggested Zelenskyy planned to surrender Donbas to Russia, and nationalists like Parubiy would have started a revolt: “If Ze is forced to eventually sign some agreements on Russia’s terms, then the greatest danger for him is extreme nationalists and national battalions.”

YouTube comment analysis confirms narrative penetration

Analysis of nearly 8,000 comments on 10 Ukrainian YouTube videos about Parubiy’s death revealed widespread promotion of identical Russian narratives.

The most popular theories blamed the government, personally Zelenskyy, with 7.5% of comments (612) promoting this line: “That is, looking at the video, you can see that the murder was recorded with a camera with an operator… this government killed him,” wrote user @BorisShtatnov.

Another user, @AlexanderKizim, commented: “The government killed Mr. Andriy. Don’t look, because they won’t find the government.”

Six percent (485 comments) promoted internal political conflict theories, with @VitaliyUrban writing: “No, I think it’s not the Moskals. But this is the work of our hands. He knew a lot, and that’s why it happened.”

Coordinated disinformation campaign

The research concluded that Russian propaganda effectively transformed an individual’s death into “a multi-level theatrical story, where real motives disappear in the chaos of political and criminal versions,” demonstrating the propaganda machine’s ability to “act in coordination, create multiple alternative realities and manipulate the emotions of Ukrainians through tragedy.”

An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians maintain confidence in their country’s ability to achieve victory in the full-scale war against Russia, provided adequate Western support is sustained, according to a new survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

The poll found that 76% of respondents believe Ukraine can win the war with proper backing from Western allies. This support encompasses strengthening existing sanctions against Russia and its partners, implementing new restrictive measures, and providing Ukraine with necessary financial and military assistance including long-range missiles, air defense systems, and aircraft.

Some 15% of surveyed Ukrainians consider victory impossible even under such conditions, while 9% of respondents could not determine their position on the matter.

KIIS researchers noted minimal change in Ukrainian confidence levels over the past year. The institute conducted similar surveys in December 2023 and September 2024, though those earlier polls asked about achieving success on the front rather than outright victory. In September, 81% of Ukrainians believed their country could achieve battlefield success, while 14% deemed this impossible even with proper Western support.

“One can reasonably assume that over the past year there has been no significant decline in belief in the possibility of victory, and at the same time, for a convincing majority, victory is possible – with proper support from the West (from which sending troops is not expected, but at least effective sanctions and sufficient provision of weapons are expected),” the survey conclusions state.

The findings contrast with international public opinion trends. According to KIIS data from 7 August, over three-quarters of Ukrainians categorically oppose Russia’s peace plan. However, as of 27 August, 53% of Germans believed Ukraine should cede territories to Russia to end the war. Meanwhile, 28 September polling data showed 46% of Americans consider US assistance to Ukraine insufficient, while 25% of respondents expressed the view that America is doing too much.

The survey underscores the persistent gap between Ukrainian resolve and varying levels of international support, with Ukrainian confidence in victory remaining largely stable despite ongoing challenges on multiple fronts.

Researchers at Yale University have identified at least 210 facilities across Russia and occupied territories where Russian authorities illegally transport Ukrainian children for “re-education,” according to a new report from the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (Yale HRL).

The study reveals the scope of what researchers describe as a systematic program operating since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. However, the actual number of facilities is likely higher, as Yale HRL continues investigating additional locations, according to the report.

The 210 identified facilities include military cadet schools, bases, medical institutions, religious sites, secondary schools, universities, hotels, family support centers, and orphanages. Most frequently, the locations are camps and sanatoriums, researchers found.

At least 130 of these facilities implemented “re-education” measures that include pro-Russian cultural, patriotic, or military programs, the study documents. Ukrainian children are forced to sing the Russian anthem, attend pro-Russian events, and participate in history and geopolitics lectures conducted entirely in Russian.

The report separately identifies 39 facilities where deported children undergo militarized programs that include combat training. While some organizations claim their programs target children aged 14 and older, Yale researchers note that participants appear to range from 8 to 17 years old.

Children in these military programs are forced to develop firearms and naval training skills, participate in shooting competitions and grenade throwing, and receive instruction in tactical medicine and drone operation, according to the findings.

Researchers documented one instance where children from Donetsk region underwent “airborne training” at a military base, transported there by aircraft belonging to the Russian presidential property management office.

The Russian government directly operates more than half of the documented locations, Yale University researchers emphasize. At least 106 facilities are managed by Russian federal or local government authorities.

The study builds on previous Yale HRL research that identified more than 8,400 children from Ukraine systematically relocated to at least 57 facilities, including locations in Belarus and Russia-occupied territories. Separate research has documented 314 individual Ukrainian children transferred to Russia for coerced adoption and fostering, actions the International Criminal Court has characterized as war crimes.

The investigation spans 20 months of research and represents what experts describe as the largest missing persons case since World War II.

Polish authorities have identified and detained two young people who operated a drone over government buildings in Warsaw on 15 September, according to spokesman for Poland’s special services coordinator Jacek Dobrzyński.

The detained individuals are a 21-year-old Ukrainian citizen and a 17-year-old Belarusian woman, TVN24 reports. Both were apprehended by the State Protection Service after the drone was spotted flying over Polish government buildings and the Belvedere Palace.

“This is a young Belarusian woman and her twenty-something colleague from Ukraine. These individuals were directly detained by State Protection Service officers. Police were notified, who also arrived at the scene and took these persons into custody,” Dobrzyński said at a press conference on 16 September.

The spokesman clarified that both individuals are in Poland legally – the Belarusian woman for several days, and the Ukrainian for eight years, according to RMF24.

Polish special services have ruled out espionage as a motive. Dobrzyński dismissed speculation about intelligence activities, stating: “We are refuting rumors that this was some massive spy operation. At this stage, no one can definitively determine this.”

The investigation points toward a violation of aviation law rather than criminal espionage. “These are young people, perhaps this resulted from carelessness, perhaps from ignorance, perhaps from the fact that they wanted to make some film here over Łazienki (Royal). Especially since they were in Łazienki Park and launched the drone from there,” Dobrzyński explained.

Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Piotr Antoni Skiba confirmed that evidence and circumstances indicate “violation of aviation law regulations, not the commission of espionage crime.” The prosecutor’s office expects to receive case materials on Wednesday.

Police secured the drone used by the detained individuals and are conducting proceedings under Article 212 of the Aviation Law. The article stipulates that anyone who violates air traffic regulations while operating an aircraft faces up to five years imprisonment.

The incident occurred on 15 September evening when Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the State Protection Service had neutralized a drone operating over government buildings and the Belvedere Palace in Warsaw. Initially, Tusk reported the detention of two Belarusian citizens, but later information revealed one detainee was Ukrainian.

Polish law prohibits drone flights over government buildings and critical infrastructure. Special markings and signs indicate no-drone zones, and operators must use the DroneTower application to register flights and check permitted areas through the DroneMap system provided by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency.

The detained individuals are currently providing testimony at a police station, while the Internal Security Agency monitors the investigation to determine their motives for operating the drone in the restricted zone.

The Institute for the Study of War reported on 15 September that Russian officials are intensifying threats against NATO member states following recent drone incursions into Poland, with top Kremlin figures warning of direct confrontation over Western support for Ukraine.

Russian Security Council Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev claimed on 15 September that a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine permitting NATO aircraft to shoot down Russian drones would “mean only one thing – a war between NATO and Russia,” according to ISW analysis of his Russian- and English-language channels.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov explicitly said on 15 September that “NATO is at war with Russia” and “NATO is de facto involved in” the war in Ukraine by providing support to Ukraine.

The threats target European financial measures against Russia. Medvedev warned that Russia will “go after” EU states providing Ukraine with loans backed by Russian assets in “all possible international and national courts.” He added that “in some cases, [Russia will] bypass court procedure” – what ISW characterizes as a possible threat to use kinetic action against EU states.

Peskov condemned European efforts to seize frozen Russian assets, stating that “such steps will not go unnoticed,” according to the analysis.

ISW assesses that these statements aim to prevent NATO and European states from defending themselves and Ukraine against Russian provocations, including the 9-10 September drone incursion into Poland.

ISW notes that Kremlin officials routinely invoke narratives similar to those Russia used to justify its Ukraine invasions – including territorial claims and false characterizations of Euromaidan as a “coup” – when threatening neighboring states, including NATO members.

Meanwhile, Russian and Belarusian forces continued Zapad-2025 joint military exercises on 15 September, implementing tactical lessons from Ukraine operations, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Forces conducted training at Borisovsky and 227th Combined Arms training grounds in Minsk Oblast, Kaliningrad Oblast, and the Barents Sea.

The Russian MoD confirmed that Leningrad Military District elements practiced deploying nuclear-capable Iskander-M ballistic missile systems in Kaliningrad Oblast, which borders NATO members Lithuania and Poland. The nuclear-capable Arkhangelsk submarine practiced launching missile strikes against naval targets, while Northern Fleet elements struck mock enemy submarines in the Barents Sea.

Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers patrolled “the neutral waters of the Barents Sea” for four hours, the MoD reported. The Belarusian MoD stated that representatives from 23 countries, including the United States, Hungary, and Türkiye, observed the exercises.

ISW highlights that Russian and Belarusian forces practiced maneuvering with all-terrain vehicles to reduce crossing times in open areas and decrease vulnerability to first-person view drone strikes – tactics developed from Ukraine battlefield experience. The exercises allow Russia to institutionalize combat lessons outside active combat zones while improving joint interoperability with Belarus.

The analysis warns that Russia is using Zapad-2025 to practice potential kinetic provocations against NATO states. Nuclear capability exercises occurred in Barents Sea waters bordering Norway and in Kaliningrad Oblast near Lithuania and Poland.

EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said on 15 September that 40% of European flights face jamming – likely from Russia. ISW reported that Russian officials previously used Kaliningrad for GPS jamming across Europe and reportedly constructed a military-grade Circularly Disposed Antenna Array 25 kilometers from the Polish border.

The report concludes that Zapad-2025 provides Russia and Belarus a platform to refine escalation techniques that serve as pressure against NATO.

The Czech Republic’s artillery shell procurement program for Ukraine has delivered over one million rounds in 2025, but the initiative faces mounting political opposition from the country’s leading opposition party ahead of October’s parliamentary elections.

ANO party leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has branded the ammunition drive “rotten” and pledged to scrap it if returned to power.

“Based on the information we have, there are inappropriate profit margins, poor quality and questionable suppliers involved. For these reasons, it should be managed at the NATO level,” ANO deputy chair Karel Havlíček told Politico.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced the milestone delivery through social media, confirming that “as of today, through the Czech initiative, we have already delivered one million units of large-caliber ammunition to Ukraine this year.” The program, which began in April 2024, aims to deliver 1.8 million rounds throughout 2025, according to Aleš Vytečka, head of the Intergovernmental Defense Cooperation Agency.

The initiative emerged in response to US delays in ammunition shipments to Ukraine at a critical battlefield moment. Czech President Petr Pavel revealed that before the program launched, Russia maintained a tenfold advantage in artillery ammunition, which has since been reduced to a 2-to-1 ratio in Moscow’s favor.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has defended the program against political attacks. “Any halt to the initiative would be a real gift to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Those who talk about it are gambling with Europe’s security,” Lipavský warned during a meeting with Czech ambassadors last month.

The ammunition initiative operates by collecting Western donations and purchasing shells on the global market before sending the combined total to Kyiv. Last year, the Czech Republic coordinated delivery of 1.5 million rounds with financial contributions from 14 countries.

Despite the program’s international recognition, domestic support has weakened. A June poll by the Stem organization found that 49% of Czechs believe their country’s support for Ukraine is excessive, while only 29% consider it appropriate and 6% find it insufficient.

ANO’s criticism has resonated with voters, with the party polling at 32 percent support compared to 21 percent for Fiala’s Spolu coalition, according to POLITICO’s poll of polls.

The program has faced transparency concerns, though Vytečka stressed that operational security requires confidentiality. “We cannot publicly disclose the type or price of the ammunition, its destination, or the delivery date. However, every single donation is reported on a weekly basis,” he explained.

Czech President Pavel acknowledged he “can’t guarantee the continuity of Czech policy on Ukraine, as that depends on the outcome of the October election.”

The initiative has elevated the Czech Republic’s international standing. Martin Vokálek from Brussels-based think tank Europeum noted that “across Europe, at least in my circle of colleagues, this is something we are known for.”

Public skepticism reflects broader war fatigue, according to analyst Jiří Táborský. “Since only a few people believe Ukraine will win and even fewer believe there will be a quick resolution, they don’t see the point in sending military aid,” he told reporters.

However, grassroots support remains strong through crowdfunding efforts. The volunteer initiative “Dárek pro Putina” (A Gift for Putin) has raised over 1 billion koruna (€41 million) from more than 360,000 donations to purchase military equipment for Ukraine.

Vytečka attributed Czech generosity to historical memory of Nazi German occupation after the 1938 Munich Conference and Soviet intervention during the 1968 Prague Spring. “Because of the memories of these two events, the majority feels [sympathy] with Ukraine,” he said.

Ukrainian forces struck command posts of Russian military units in occupied Donetsk Oblast on 8 September, targeting personnel including command staff shortly after Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov visited the area, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on 16 September.

The strikes hit command posts of Russia’s “Center” military grouping and the 41st Combined Arms Army operating on the Pokrovsk direction, according to the General Staff. Ukrainian forces targeted the locations using missile troops, artillery, Air Forces, and unmanned systems in coordination with other Defense Forces units.

The timing of the attack proved significant. Belousov had visited the Russian command posts on the Pokrovsk direction on 28 August, just days before Ukrainian forces successfully struck the same locations where the occupation army command was stationed.

“Strikes on these military targets significantly disrupt the command and control of Russian Armed Forces units and subunits,” the General Staff reported. “Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to deliver precise strikes on aggressor targets to force the Russian Federation to stop its war of aggression.”

The 8 September operation resulted in casualties among Russian personnel, with command staff among those hit, Ukrainian military officials confirmed. The targeted command posts belonged to units actively operating on the Pokrovsk front, one of the war’s most contested areas.

Local residents reported explosions in occupied Donetsk on 8 September, with OSINT analysts identifying strikes on the former Topaz metallurgical plant. The same day, Russian forces shelled a non-operational DTEK processing plant in Donbas.

The Ukrainian General Staff emphasized that the strikes form part of ongoing efforts to degrade Russian military capabilities and command structures in occupied territories. The coordinated operation involved multiple branches of Ukraine’s Defense Forces working together to target the Russian military infrastructure.

Norway has established Camp Jomsborg, one of the largest Norwegian military camps abroad, in the forests of southeastern Poland to train Ukrainian soldiers with Norwegian instructors, NRK reported on 15 September.

The camp, built from scratch starting this summer, currently houses hundreds of Norwegian military personnel and has begun receiving its first groups of Ukrainian trainees – experienced combat veterans from the front lines.

“They are at war. There are drones and artillery strikes. There is close combat and firefights daily. We try to recreate that, so we follow the principle ‘train as you fight,'” a Norwegian Defense instructor told NRK.

The training focuses on realistic combat simulations, with the first module addressing stress management in combat conditions. During one exercise observed by NRK, a camouflaged soldier crouched against a pine tree with wide-open eyes while Ukrainian soldiers around him slapped his cheeks, struggling to make contact. White smoke drifted between the trees as explosions echoed through the forest.

“We must prepare soldiers as well as possible so they survive at the front,” Ukrainian brigade instructor “Darius” told NRK.

Darius, now 23, was studying international politics in Kyiv when Russia launched its full-scale invasion three and a half years ago. He has since fought in Zaporizhzhia, Bakhmut – nicknamed “the meat grinder” before it fell in spring 2023 – and currently serves at the front in Kharkiv.

The camp is part of Operation Legio, led by Norway and including all Nordic countries, the Baltic states, and Poland. The operation encompasses both weapons deliveries and soldier training.

According to Brigadier Atle Molde, chief of Operation Legio, this marks the first time Norway has led an international operation abroad.

The exact location of Camp Jomsborg remains classified, but thousands of pine trees have been felled to make room for tents and shooting ranges. Construction equipment operates continuously between tents and containers across the sprawling site.

Ukrainian instructors help design the training programs based on current battlefield conditions. “We contribute by being a testing ground where we can test all possible weapons systems,” Darius explained about the Ukrainian battlefield.

Logistics presents one of the biggest challenges, according to Darius. Equipment and weapons must be carried on foot for many kilometers, leading Ukrainians to experiment with unmanned vehicles for supply delivery.

“Soldiers must stay at their positions for two to three months,” he said. “Getting them out is extremely dangerous. Most of our losses occur when people are traveling to or from the front line.”

The training program includes tactics, trench warfare, and extensive drone operations for both surveillance and attacks. “We need a safe place to train where Russian missiles and attack drones cannot reach us,” Darius noted.

Knowledge exchange flows both ways. Ukrainian instructors provide Norwegian personnel with insights into front-line challenges and emerging battlefield trends.

The Norwegian stress management instructor described the impact of working with Ukrainian soldiers: “You notice there’s a bit more seriousness in the room when you’re teaching soldiers who come straight from the front and have been in sharp combat actions just days before arriving here. You know that what you’re teaching has a direct impact on those guys when they return to battle.”

Camp capacity will vary depending on training type – fewer for specialized courses, more for basic military education. When completed, the facility will accommodate several hundred Ukrainian soldiers.

Recent weeks have been marked by high-level politics, including conversations between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and summits in China where Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were invited. European leaders have emphasized strengthening cooperation in supporting Ukraine, with European support now at record levels.

Molde acknowledged Russian interest in monitoring camp activities but dismissed immediate attack threats: “A direct attack on a NATO country where we are now is a very big red line to cross. So I don’t consider that a very big threat.”

Following NRK’s visit, several drones have entered Polish and Romanian airspace on multiple occasions. Russia was accused of deliberately sending drones into Polish airspace, which the country denied. According to the Defense Ministry, these incidents have not affected Camp Jomsborg activities.

Darius expressed concern about potential erosion of allied support, noting shortages of ammunition, equipment, and soldiers. “I hope for good news, but our mission is to do the job ourselves.”

The casualty count from a Russian airstrike on Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast has risen to 15 civilians, according to the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Anastasia Medvedevasaid that the injured have been diagnosed with “mine-explosive injuries, concussions, bruises and cut wounds of various parts of the body, fractures.” One person remains in moderate condition.

Russian occupation forces struck the central part of Kramatorsk late on the evening of 14 September using three high-explosive aerial bombs equipped with UMPK modules, according to the prosecutor’s office. Initial reports Monday morning indicated nine injured civilians.

The overnight assault extended beyond Kramatorsk. Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia district during the night of 15 September, causing fires in private houses, regional officials report. No casualties have been confirmed in Zaporizhzhia at this time.

The Zaporizhzhia strike formed part of a broader Russian offensive that began at 7:00 PM on September 14. Russian forces launched three S-300 surface-to-air missiles from Kursk and Belgorod oblasts, along with 84 strike drones including Shahed, Gerbera, and other types from six directions: Kursk, Bryansk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, according to Ukrainian military reports. Approximately 50 of the drones were Shaheds.

Russian military leadership denies targeting civilian infrastructure during the full-scale war, despite documented strikes on hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy facilities, and water supply systems. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations classify these attacks as war crimes committed by the Russian Federation.

American military officers attended the Russian-Belarusian joint military exercise West-2025 in Belarus on 15 September, where they were personally met by Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, Reuters reported.

Khrenin called the visit of the American military a “surprise” and made an unusually open offer to the officers.

“We will show whatever is of interest for you. Whatever you want. You can go there and see, talk to people,” the minister told the American officers, according to Reuters.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry released video footage showing two uniformed US officers thanking Khrenin for the invitation and shaking his hand. The American representatives declined to speak with reporters.

According to Reuters, the presence of American officers represents the latest sign of warming relations between Washington and Minsk. The Americans were among representatives from 23 countries observing the exercises, including two other NATO member states – Türkiye and Hungary.

The West-2025 exercise began on 12 September at training grounds in both Russia and Belarus, occurring during heightened tensions with NATO. The maneuvers started two days after Poland shot down Russian drones that had crossed into its airspace.

The warming of US-Belarus relations follows recent diplomatic contacts. Trump representative John Coale visited Minsk last week for talks with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Following those negotiations, Lukashenko agreed to release 52 prisoners from jails, including journalists and political opponents.

In exchange, the United States announced sanctions relief for Belarus’s national airline Belavia, allowing it to service and purchase components for its fleet, which includes Boeing aircraft.

According to Coale, Trump wants to reopen the US embassy in Belarus, normalize ties, and revive the economic and trade relationship. Trump has been cultivating closer ties with Lukashenko, who regularly holds talks with Putin, as part of efforts to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. Last week, Trump sent Lukashenko a hand-signed letter through Coale.

The West-2025 exercises are scheduled to run from 12-16 September 2025, in Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier warned of possible threats from Belarusian territory under cover of summer military exercises. Belarus subsequently announced it would move the main maneuvers deeper into the country to “reduce tensions.”

Ukrainian defense units operating in the area of responsibility of the 1st National Guard Corps “Azov” have cleared the settlement of Pankivka and adjacent territories from Russian forces, according to the corps’ press service.

Pankivka in Donetsk Oblast is crucial because its liberation by Ukrainian forces disrupts Russian control on the Dobropillia front, strengthening Ukraine’s strategic position in the oblast.

The liberation came as a result of coordinated actions between Armed Forces of Ukraine and National Guard units on the Dobropillia direction, the press service reports on social media.

Russian command has reinforced its grouping in the sector by relocating additional reserves to the 1st NGU “Azov” Corps zone of responsibility. The reinforcements include four infantry brigades and one marine regiment, according to the Ukrainian military.

“The enemy continues to build up military groupings. In order to strengthen offensive potential, the Russian army command relocated additional reserves to the area of responsibility of the 1st NGU ‘Azov’ Corps consisting of: four infantry brigades and one marine regiment,” the corps reported.

Ukrainian forces are working to halt the Russian advance and prevent breakthrough of defensive lines. “The Defense Forces of Ukraine are making every effort to stop the enemy’s advance and prevent a breakthrough of the defense,” the press service said.

The clearing of Pankivka represents continued territorial liberation efforts by Ukrainian forces in the Dobropillia sector, where Russian forces have been attempting to advance with reinforced units.

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 military intelligence operatives have identified and struck a self-propelled fire unit from the Buk-M3 air defense system on occupied territory in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported on 15 September.

The HUR press service published video footage of the strike, which targeted the air defense system near the settlement of Oleksandrivka on temporarily occupied territory in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, more than 50 kilometers from the front line.

The drone aimed at “the most valuable part of the air defense system,” according to the intelligence agency’s statement. While objective control footage cannot definitively confirm whether the complex was completely destroyed or only damaged, “even in the case of ‘only’ damage, the machine will require major repairs,” HUR reports.

This type of drone typically conducts attacks on deep rear positions, particularly targeting temporarily occupied Crimea, where they have already destroyed numerous air defense assets, radars, several aircraft and helicopters, and struck several boats and ships, according to the intelligence directorate.

The latest strike follows a 10 September operation when HUR special forces used a drone to hit a Russian multifunctional Project MPSV07 vessel.

“At the moment of the attack, the enemy ship was conducting radio-electronic reconnaissance and patrolling the approaches to Novorossiysk Bay, where the Russians base the remnants of their Black Sea Fleet,” the intelligence agency reported.

Russian forces conducted an underground infiltration mission through a gas pipeline near Kupiansk, marking the third documented use of this tactic during the war, according to a Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR)-affiliated source.

The operation began when Russian forces “entered a gas pipeline from a wooded area near Lyman Pershyi (northeast of Kupiansk), traveled through the pipe for an estimated four days with electric scooters and modified wheeled stretchers, and exited the pipe near Radkivka (immediately north of Kupiansk),” the Ukrainian source reported on 12 September, according to the ISW.

After emerging from the pipeline, Russian forces advanced toward Kupiansk and the nearby railway line, according to the intelligence source. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed the mission occurred but stated that Russian forces “are accumulating on the northern outskirts of Kupiansk but have not entered Kupiansk itself.”

Ukrainian forces have since responded to neutralize the infiltration route. “Ukrainian forces have since struck and damaged the pipeline and Russian forces are no longer able to advance through the pipeline,” stated the commander of a Ukrainian drone regiment operating in the Kupiansk direction.

Russian military bloggers suggested uncertainty about the mission’s timing, with some claiming “Russian forces may have advanced through the gas pipeline in early September 2025, indicating that the footage may be up to a week and a half old.”

Kupiansk Military Administration Head Andriy Besedin clarified the current situation on September 13, stating that “Russian forces do not currently hold positions in Kupiansk but fighting is ongoing near the outskirts of the city.”

Pattern of tactical innovation spreads across front lines

This marks the third documented use of pipeline infiltration tactics by Russian forces. Previous operations occurred in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast in January 2024 and in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast in March 2025, with elements of the Russian 60th Veterany Separate Assault Brigade participating in both earlier missions.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that the spread of this tactic indicates improved knowledge transfer within Russian military command. ISW has not observed reports of the 60th Veterany Brigade operating in the Kupiansk direction, “indicating that the Russian military command is disseminating the brigade’s knowledge and success in such missions to other units and formations.”

ISW previously noted in January 2025 that “the Russian military command appeared to be at least attempting to improve its ability to disseminate lessons learned, given that Russian forces are exhibiting similar operational patterns across the front line.”

The tactic may also reflect individual unit adaptation to Ukrainian drone capabilities, as pipelines “provide Russian forces with natural cover and concealment that can enable forward movement,” according to ISW analysis.

International condemnation grows over Polish airspace violation

The international community has intensified criticism of Russia’s recent drone incursion into Poland. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki presented a joint statement at the United Nations on 12 September, in which nearly 50 countries condemned Russia’s violation of Polish airspace on 9-10 September with 19 drones.

“Russia purposely violated Poland’s territorial integrity and trespassed against NATO and the EU,” Bosacki stated at the UN.

Ukrainian Permanent Representative to the UN Andriy Melnyk characterized the incident as deliberate provocation, stating that Ukraine shares Poland’s view that “the Russian drone incursion was not a technical error, but rather a deliberate act aimed at escalating tensions and testing the international community’s response to ongoing Russian aggression.”

US Acting Permanent Representative Dorothy Shea reinforced NATO commitments, reiterating that the United States remains committed to defending “every inch of NATO.” Shea linked the airspace violation to broader Russian escalation, noting that “Russia has intensified its air campaign against Ukraine following the US-Russia Alaska Summit on August 15” and that such actions demonstrate “immense disrespect for good faith US efforts” to usher in peace.

Russian and Belarusian denials contradicted by evidence

Russian and Belarusian officials have attempted to deflect responsibility for the airspace violation. Russian UN Representative Vasily Nebenzya claimed Poland “hastened to place the blame on Russia without presenting any evidence linking Russia to the incident.”

Nebenzya argued the drones could not be Russian because “the range of the drones found in Poland does not exceed 700 kilometers.” The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed Russia “refuted the speculations… about plans to attack one of the NATO countries.”

Belarusian UN representative Artem Tozik dismissed Poland’s accusations as “baseless” and claimed Belarus “was the first to inform Poland about the approach of drones that ‘went off course’ during the overnight Russian strikes against Ukraine.”

However, physical evidence undermines these denials. Sky News published images of Russian Gerbera drones that landed in Poland, while Bosacki shared images showing Cyrillic letters on the drones at the UN Security Council meeting.

Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi’s analysis of Sky News images revealed the drone was equipped with “an Iranian-made Tallysman satellite navigation four-channel controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA).” These devices “filter out false signal sources from electronic warfare systems in order to make the drone more resistant to EW,” making it “unlikely that these Russian drones flew off course due to EW jamming.”

The scale of the September 9-10 incursion involving at least 19 drones “is roughly three times the number of projectiles that have breached Polish airspace during the entirety of Russia’s full-scale invasion.” ISW assessment indicates it is “extremely unlikely that such a concentrated number of drones could have violated Polish airspace accidentally or due to technical or operator error.”

Additional evidence includes fuel tanks that extended drone range “as far as 900 kilometers,” contradicting Nebenzya’s range-based denial, according to ISW analysis.

Poland’s foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski has characterized Russia’s drone incursion into Polish airspace as a calculated test by the Kremlin to measure NATO’s response through incremental escalations without triggering full-scale war.

Radosław Sikorski confirmed that while the drones entering Poland carried no explosives, they were capable of bearing ammunition. “Interestingly, they were all duds, which suggests to me that Russia tried to test us without starting a war,” Sikorski told the Guardian in Kyiv.

The incursion occurred during Russia’s massive 10 September assault on Ukraine, when Moscow launched over 400 drones and more than 40 cruise and ballistic missiles. Nineteen Russian drones crossed into Polish territory, flying directly from Belarus rather than straying from Ukraine operations.

Poland scrambled F-35s and F-16s in response, marking the first time Polish forces deployed airborne weapons against unmanned vehicles. Despite aircraft deployment, Polish forces intercepted only three or four of the 19 drones, with some traveling hundreds of miles into Polish territory.

Sikorski dismissed suggestions that Polish air defenses were unprepared for the incursion. “The drones didn’t reach their targets and there was minor damage to property, nobody was hurt. If it happened in Ukraine, by Ukrainian definitions, that would be regarded as a 100% success,” he said.

The incident triggered NATO’s Article 4, requiring member states to consult when any ally faces threats to territorial integrity. However, NATO decided not to treat the deliberate drone incursion as an attack. The alliance announced Friday it would deploy more jets to the eastern flank to protect against future drone attacks.

Romania became the second NATO member to report a Russian drone incursion within days, scrambling two F-16 fighter jets Saturday to monitor the situation. The country’s defense ministry condemned Russia’s actions, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas describing them as unacceptable.

Romania summoned Moscow’s ambassador Vladimir Lipaev to protest what it called an “unacceptable and irresponsible act, which constitutes a violation of sovereignty.” The foreign ministry stated that “such recurring incidents contribute to the escalation and amplification of threats to regional security.”

Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul called the Romanian incident “yet another unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of a close partner in the EU and Nato.”

Sikorski said Poland’s response would have been “much tougher” if the attack had caused injuries or deaths, though he declined to elaborate on future scenarios.

The Polish foreign minister rejected suggestions by Donald Trump that the incursion “could have been a mistake,” citing the scale of the operation.

“You can believe that one or two veer off target, but 19 mistakes in one night, over seven hours, sorry, I don’t believe it,” he said.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the incursion brought Poland closer to military war “than at any time since the second world war.”

Polish anti-drone teams will receive training from Ukrainian operators to defend against future attacks, Sikorski announced. 

Training will occur at a NATO center in Poland rather than Ukraine for safety reasons. “This is something that the public and the governments in the west need urgently to integrate in their thinking … that it is the Ukrainians who will be training us how to stand up to Russia, not the other way around,” Sikorski added.

At a Kyiv conference, Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg said the US president was becoming “exasperated” with Putin but cautioned European leaders not to push Trump too hard. “One thing I would advise anyone who is working with President Trump – do not put him in a position where he thinks he’s being used, that is probably the worst place you can be with him,” Kellogg said.

Sikorski expressed hope Trump would receive the Nobel peace prize if he achieved “a fair peace” involving “Ukraine within defensible borders and a Ukraine that is integrating with the west.”

Twenty-six countries pledged at a Paris meeting to contribute to a postwar security mission for Ukraine, with some offering ground troops. European countries have discussed providing Ukraine “article 5-like” guarantees after a peace settlement to prevent future Russian attacks.

However, Sikorski warned against unrealistic security guarantees.

“Security guarantees are meant to deter a potential adversary … So what we are saying is that if there is some kind of peace, the next time Russia tries anything against Ukraine, we might go to war with Russia. Now I find that not very credible. Because if you want to go war with Russia, you can do it today and I see no volunteers. And there is nothing more dangerous in international relations than giving a guarantee that is not credible,” he said.

Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia district overnight against 15 September, causing fires in private houses, according to regional officials. No casualties have been reported at this time.

The assault began around 2:28 am when explosions were heard in Zaporizhzhia city. “Preliminarily, no casualties,” Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Russian troops struck the district three times, Fedorov confirmed at 4:07 am.

The strikes damaged infrastructure across multiple communities. Power supply was cut in one of the communities, while private houses caught fire in Zaporizhzhia district proper.

Russian forces also targeted the suburbs of Zaporizhzhia, damaging a house in a garden cooperative area. The attack left no injuries or fatalities, according to the regional administration.

Separately, Russian troops conducted at least four strikes against Kushugum community. The attacks damaged roofs, walls, and shattered windows in the settlement, as shown by the regional military administration.

The Zaporizhzhia attack was part of a broader Russian offensive overnight. From 7:00 PM on 14 September, Russian forces launched three S-300 surface-to-air missiles from Kursk and Belgorod oblasts and 84 strike drones including Shahed, Gerbera, and other types from six directions: Kursk, Bryansk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Approximately 50 of the drones were Shaheds, according to Ukrainian military reports.

The overnight assault follows a pattern of Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure on 14 September. Russian forces struck an agricultural enterprise in Boromlyanska community of Okhtyrka district in Sumy region, injuring 12 people involved in harvest collection. The attack used two missiles and damaged approximately 30 units of agricultural equipment, according to Sumy region prosecutor’s office.

Eleven men were hospitalized from the Sumy attack, with one in serious condition, confirmed Oleh Hryhorov, oblast governor.

Russian military leadership denies targeting civilian infrastructure during the full-scale war, despite documented strikes on hospitals, schools, kindergartens, energy facilities, and water supply systems. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations classify these attacks as war crimes committed by the Russian Federation.