Russia launched an overnight air attack on Ukraine early on 23 September, using guided bombs, ballistic missiles, and more than 100 explosive drones. The Russian strikes killed a man in Zaporizhzhia when a bomb hit his home. The attacks hit six Ukrainian oblasts and caused fires and infrastructure damage.

Zaporizhzhia: man killed as bombs hit residential and industrial areas

According to the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Prosecutor’s Office, Russian forces dropped six high-explosive aerial bombs on Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of 23 September.

The Zaporizhzhia Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that the bombs also struck the premises of two businesses and additional civilian areas. The Environmental Inspectorate of the Southern District reported that more than 500 square meters of land were contaminated with construction debris and explosive remnants.

The prosecutors launched a criminal case under Article 438, Part 2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code — the deliberate killing of civilians during armed conflict.

Poltava Oblast: fire at industrial site after drone strike

In Poltava Oblast, Russian drones struck a facility in Poltava district, causing a fire. According to the head of the oblast military administration, Volodymyr Kohut, the fire was extinguished quickly by emergency units. No injuries were reported.

In Myrhorod Raion, debris from an intercepted drone landed in an open area. No damage or injuries occurred there.

Kirovohrad Oblast: infrastructure fire caused by drone attack

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that a Russian drone attack in Kirovohrad Oblast caused a fire at an infrastructure site. The fire broke out overnight and was localized by rescue workers. Twenty-eight emergency personnel and six vehicles were deployed. No casualties were reported.

Mykolaiv: explosion heard during night attack

Suspilne reported hearing a loud explosion in Mykolaiv during the overnight attack. No further details about the impact or damage were provided.

Air Force: 103 drones shot down, 12 reached targets

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia attacked Ukraine overnight starting from 21:00 on 22 September using 115 drones and three Iskander-M or KN-23 ballistic missiles. The drones included Shahed long-range kamikaze drones, Gerbera decoy drones, and others launched from Russian and occupied territory. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down or suppressed 103 of them.

More Russian long-range drones were still in the air at the time of the Air Force’s reporting. 

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

Multiple locations hit across occupied Crimea

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

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

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

Damage to support infrastructure confirmed

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

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

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

Drone activity shuts down Copenhagen and Oslo airports

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

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

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

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

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No drones recovered, investigation ongoing

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

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

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

Sweden signals readiness to respond with force

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

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

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

NATO allies echo similar threats after Russian violations

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

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

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

UK says armed confrontation may follow

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

Two drones in Masovian voivodeship

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

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

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

Third object found in Lublin voivodeship

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

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Connection to earlier Russian drone incursion not reported

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

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

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

Ukrainian forces advance in Sumy and near Pokrovsk

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

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

Russian forces make advances in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A nuclear-shielded “terminator” turned wreckage

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zelenskyy calls for tough sanctions and global pressure

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

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

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

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

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

Ukrainian drones strike helicopters and radar in occupied Crimea

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

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

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

Radar with 400 km detection range

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

Crimea airfields repeatedly hit in coordinated drone campaigns

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

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

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

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

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

Russia operates 210 child facilities across 59 regions

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

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

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

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

Indoctrination and militarization of abducted children

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Russia denies deportations, promotes adoptions

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

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

Demographic conquest under imperial logic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Russia’s daily air assaults

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

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

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

Realgold presents homegrown FPV motors, including for interceptors

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

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

Tax system favors foreign suppliers, company warns

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

Still only partially localized

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NATO must stop appeasing Russian provocations, Pavel warns

Pavel underscored that violating NATO airspace activates legitimate defensive mechanisms.

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

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

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

Estonia invokes NATO Article 4 after MiG-31 incursion

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

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

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

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

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

As always, Russia denies any airspace violations

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

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

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

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

Poland says two Russian fighter jets flew low over a Polish offshore oil platform in the Baltic Sea on 19 September. Earlier the same day, Russian military aircraft violated Estonia’s airspace.

Russian jets violate safety zone over Polish oil platform

According to the Polish Border Service, the two Russian warplanes carried out a low-altitude flyover of a platform operated by Petrobaltic in the Baltic Sea. The aircraft violated the platform’s designated safety zone. Petrobaltic is a Polish company involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The border guards did not specify the exact model of the aircraft involved in the incident.

The incident occurred on 19 September 2025 and was publicly reported by the Polish Border Service on X at 18:45 local time. In its post, the agency stated:

“Two Russian fighter jets carried out a low-altitude flyover above the Petrobaltic platform in the Baltic Sea. The safety zone of the platform was violated. The Polish Armed Forces and other services have been notified.”

Pattern of provocations continues

The airspace breach near the Polish platform took place just hours after a separate violation of Estonia’s airspace. On the same day, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets reportedly entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission.

Estonian officials said the aircraft remained in their airspace for approximately 12 minutes and flew near Tallinn before Italian F-35 jets operating under NATO command were scrambled to intercept them.

More than a week earlier, multiple Russian military drones violated Polish airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble and shoot down some of the drones. Later, a Russian drone also entered Romanian airspace.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented the EU’s proposed 19th package of sanctions against Russia, focusing on energy, finance, and military-linked technology. The measures must still be adopted unanimously by EU member states.

Energy: “It is time to turn off the tap”

According to the European Commission, von der Leyen announced a full ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.

“Russia’s war economy is sustained by revenues from fossil fuels,” she said.

Rosneft and Gazpromneft would face full transaction bans, and 118 new vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet would be blacklisted.

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The package also includes penalties on oil buyers in third countries, including China.

“We are now going after those who fuel Russia’s war by purchasing oil in breach of the sanctions,” she stated.

Finance: crypto and banks under new restrictions

The EU would impose a transaction ban on more Russian banks and banks in third countries. For the first time, crypto platforms would be sanctioned. Transactions in cryptocurrencies and with entities in special economic zones would be restricted.

Military tech and indoctrination networks targeted

The proposal includes new export bans on items used on the battlefield, and sanctions on 45 companies supporting Russia’s military-industrial complex. Individuals involved in the indoctrination of abducted Ukrainian children would also be sanctioned.

Economy under pressure

“Our economic analysis is clear – our sanctions are severely affecting Russia’s economy,” von der Leyen said. She pointed to a 17% interest rate and high inflation. “Among the first Russian requests is, sanctions relief.”

Using frozen assets to fund Ukraine

Von der Leyen said the EU is preparing a plan to use cash tied to immobilized Russian assets to fund a Reparations Loan for Ukraine.

“Ukraine will only pay back the loan once Russia pays reparations,” she said.

Coordination and call to action

The sanctions will align with G7 measures under Canada’s presidency.

“We want Russia to leave the battlefield and come to the negotiating table,” von der Leyen said. “This is the way to give peace a real chance.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to a war of attrition against Ukraine. In a report published on 18 September, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) pushed back against the Kremlin’s narrative, reiterating that Russia’s victory is not inevitable.

Putin’s attrition theory resurfaces

According to the ISW report, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on 18 September that over 700,000 Russian soldiers are on the frontline in Ukraine. Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov, a day earlier, said Russian forces are advancing on “practically all fronts”. These statements reflect Putin’s broader theory of victory: that Russia can continue slow advances indefinitely and exhaust Ukraine and the West.

“Putin’s and Gerasimov’s recent statements are part of wider Kremlin efforts to push Ukraine and the West to immediately acquiesce to Putin’s maximalist demands out of fear that a Russian victory is inevitable and that Russian aggression will only increase in the future,” ISW wrote.

ISW highlights mounting Russian weaknesses

ISW assessed that “a Russian victory is not inevitable,” and that Ukraine and the West Єcan leverage several key Russian weaknesses to force Putin to change his calculus and engage in good-faith negotiations.”

Russia’s military gains have come at steep costs. On 9 September, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russia suffered 299,210 casualties — killed and wounded — since January 2025. Russia’s slow territorial gains have come with disproportionate losses.

ISW noted that Putin’s economic mismanagement during the war has led to unsustainable spending, inflation, and labor shortages, further undermining the country’s ability to maintain the current pace of war.

US President Donald Trump also commented on 18 September that Russia is incurring more losses than Ukraine and suggested that if oil prices fall, Putin will have to “drop out” of the war. Russian oil revenues continue to play a critical role in funding the Kremlin’s war effort.

Kremlin continues to demand Ukrainian capitulation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated on 18 September that Moscow will only compromise if a peace settlement guarantees Russia’s “legitimate security interests” and those of Russians in Ukraine, ISW reported.

He also claimed that the United States understands the so-called “root causes” of the war. ISW noted that such language has long been used by Russian officials to reinforce original Kremlin demands — demands they seek to achieve either militarily or through pressure disguised as diplomacy.

Ukrainian drone tech firm Ptashka Systems has presented a new way to counter Russian roadside ambush drones by using interceptor drones that drop nets on them. The system is designed to neutralize so-called “waiting drones” — FPVs that land near logistics routes, switch off their motors, and lie in ambush until a vehicle appears.

This Ptashka Systems’ solution avoids the loss of both Ukrainian drones and ammunition — Ukrainian drone pilots often destroy such roadside ambushes by striking them with their own FPV drones. Ukrainian forces already use nets in limited cases to intercept airborne drones.

Dropped nets disable ambush FPVs

Ptashka Systems published a video showing how its drones can release special cartridges carrying nets directly onto hidden Russian FPVs, waiting on the ground.

Once covered, the ambush drones cannot take off, as the nets block their propellers and render them uncontrollable, Militarnyi noted, adding that the advantage of this approach is that the enemy drone remains stuck in its ambush, forcing its operator to waste time waiting for a target that never comes.

“When the target appears, the net complicates or makes it impossible for the “waiting drone” to take off — it physically cannot rise because its propellers are blocked. This neutralization mechanism makes the drone uncontrollable and disables it,” Militarnyi says.

The developers invited Ukrainian Mavic drone pilots to take part in the effort and announced that Ptashka Systems is ready to provide free cartridges with nets to those operators.

Ukraine is preparing to ramp up its aerial defense with a fleet of 1,000 drone interceptors deployed daily, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on 18 September during a press conference in Kyiv with Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Kyiv aims to surpass Russia’s nightly drone attacks

Suspilne reported that Shmyhal said Ukraine’s goal is to exceed the current scale of Russian drone usage, which he sometimes reaches around 800 drones per night. To do so, he confirmed Ukraine is working toward the capability to operate no fewer than 1,000 drone interceptors per day.

“This level will be reached. I cannot say what the current level is, but this level will be implemented in the near future,” Shmyhal claimed at the briefing.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this goal is not distant and that work is progressing according to schedule.

The challenge isn’t drones — it’s deployment systems

Shmyhal clarified that drone production is not the limiting factor in reaching the 1,000-interceptor mark. Instead, the main challenge lies in the availability and implementation of ground-based control systems, radar units, and components that utilize artificial intelligence for targeting and guidance.

“This is a large complex, and its implementation takes some time. But we are moving confidently and according to schedule toward this goal,” he added.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 86 drones overnight on 18–19 September, targeting Ukraine from multiple directions and triggering air alerts across several oblasts. The Russian attack injured a man near Kyiv and caused fires in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Russia fires 86 drones from four launch points

According to the Air Force’s report this morning, the attack began at 21:00 on 18 September and involved 86 Shahed one-way-attack drones, Gerbera decoy UAVs, and other types of drones launched from Russia’s Kursk, Millerovo, Shatalovo, and Prymorsko-Akhtarsk. Ukrainian defenders used aviation, air defense missile units, electronic warfare systems, drone units, and mobile fire teams to repel the attack.

As of 09:00 on 19 September, Ukrainian forces had intercepted or suppressed 71 enemy drones across northern, eastern, and central parts of the country. However, 15 drones hit targets at six different locations. Additionally, falling debris from destroyed UAVs was recorded at two more sites.

Kyiv hit by explosions and repeat air alerts

Suspilne reports that multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv overnight. The city and oblast came under drone attack, triggering an air raid alarm at 1:10. According to the Kyiv Military Administration, one drone crashed in Solomianskyi district. In Shevchenkivskyi, debris from a destroyed drone fell, and an unexploded UAV was later found in the same district. Sappers were dispatched to the location.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klychko confirmed the fall of a drone in Solomianskyi and noted that emergency services responded to the scene. Later, the Kyiv Military Administration reported additional falling debris in Shevchenkivskyi district, including on a roadway. The fragments damaged a trolleybus line.

Fires in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

According to the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, Russian forces launched drones at Pavlohrad during the night, causing several fires. Rescue teams were able to localize the blazes. In the Nikopol area, the Russian military used both an FPV drone and artillery to strike the city center and the Myrove community. No casualties were reported in those incidents.

Ukraine’s drone command wants to scale up to cover the full frontline. That means growing from 2.2% to 5% of Ukraine’s total military personnel. The Unmanned Systems Forces detailed this goal — and their progress — in a 100-day report published by commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi.

Madyar presents 100-day report on Ukraine’s drone command

In a detailed report published by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS), commander Major Robert “Madyar” Brovdi reviewed his first 100 days in charge. He revealed that the SBS Grouping, formed on 11 June 2025 by merging 12 units, has since grown to play a significant role across the front. The report emphasized transparency and operational metrics without hype.

On 1 July 2025, the force launched a unified reporting system and introduced an electronic Combat Log (eCL). A public results dashboard now provides live data on drone missions and effectiveness. According to the report, over 402,000 sorties have been carried out by the Unmanned Systems Forces over this period — nearly half of them strike missions. Reconnaissance flights made up the rest, Brovdi reported.

Scaling drone capabilities and logistics without state funds

The Unmanned Systems Forces operate with only 2.2% of the total personnel of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Still, six of its units currently rank among the top 13 out of 500 units nationwide. The command claims the force now operates across all battlefield layers — tactical, operational, and strategic.

A central logistics warehouse was established for supplying all 12 Grouping units with equipment and drone peripherals — excluding the drones themselves. This hub holds over 1,039,870 units across 1,600+ item types. Notably, none of this supply chain is funded by the state. The stock includes 335 ATVs, 200 pickups, 460 logistics and freight vehicles, 180 motorcycles, and 900 mobile electronic warfare systems. It also includes radio systems, Starlink units, ELINT tools, batteries, and more.

Domestic drone munitions production ramps up

The SBS’s in-house project dubbed the “Sugar Factory” has launched domestic production of 51 types of drone ammunition. So far, over 50,000 munitions have been produced. The Grouping plans to scale monthly production to 120,000 units to fully meet its operational needs.

Clear goals, no recruitment campaign yet

Madyar stated that the SBS has not yet launched a recruitment campaign. But the goal is clear: reach 5% of the total personnel of the Defense Forces. Only at that point will the drone forces be able to provide full front coverage at all three layers — tactical, operational, and strategic — and exceed 50% of all verified enemy targets hit. Otherwise, Madyar stated, he will resign and return to his brigade — “even if just as the bathhouse operator.”

Strategic targets inside Russia are being hit daily, the commander said, although details remain undisclosed.

“We’re scaling up — quietly,” Brovdi added.

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reports that intelligence data show about 20,000 Cubans are fighting on Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine. The report was discussed during a US Congress security briefing, which highlighted Cuba’s role in aiding Russia both with fighters and sanction evasion.

US Congress briefing on Cuban involvement

On 18 September, US Representative Mario Díaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, hosted a virtual national security briefing with Ukrainian officials and US lawmakers. The focus was the “alarming presence of thousands of Cuban regime troops fighting alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine” and the threat this poses to US and regional security.

Florida representatives María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giménez also participated, alongside Cuban opposition figures and Ukrainian officials including presidential sanctions adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk, intelligence representative Andrii Yusov, and members of parliament Oleksandr Merezhko and Marian Zablotskyi.

20,000 Cubans recruited for Russia’s war

According to Suspilne, Ukrainian intelligence representative said at the meeting that around 20,000 Cubans have been recruited by Russia. About 1,000 signed formal contracts with Russia in 2023–2025. The average age of these mercenaries is 35.

Ukrainian officials presented a list of 39 confirmed Cuban fatalities but stressed that the figure represents only part of the actual losses. Each Cuban fighter reportedly receives about $2,000 a month. Yusov noted that while the payment is small, it is “a powerful argument” for Cuba’s impoverished population.

Foreign support for Russia’s war machine

Briefing participants also stressed how Russia continues to bypass sanctions with support from Cuba, China, Iran, and North Korea. According to intelligence data, critical microchips and other components flow into Russia’s defense industry through these countries. Officials stated that 60% of Russia’s artillery shells come from North Korea, while Iranian drones are used in major strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukrainian intelligence emphasized that Cuban fighters form the second-largest foreign mercenary group in Russia’s ranks.

Training in occupied Crimea

Suspilne Krym earlier reported that Cuban mercenaries, alongside recruits from African states and other Russian allies, undergo training in Russian-occupied Crimea before being deployed to fight against Ukraine.

Ireland has delivered 34 military vehicles and three demining robots for Ukraine as part of its non-lethal military aid. The announcement was made on 18 September by the Irish Defense Minister.

Ireland delivers 34-vehicle non-lethal military aid convoy to Ukraine

According to the Irish Government’s press release, two convoys organized by the Irish Defense Forces have arrived in Poland carrying 34 military vehicles destined for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The shipments were carried out under Operation Carousel 3, led by the Defense Forces Transport Corps.

The equipment was delivered to the International Donor Coordination Cell in Rzeszów and will be officially handed over in coordination with the Ukrainian military.

The Tánaiste (Ireland’s second-ranking government official) and Minister for Defense Simon Harris said,

“This important donation is a further indication of Ireland’s steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal invasion.”

He stressed the need to continue backing Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, calling the delivery a “practical example” of non-lethal aid provided since the 2022 full-scale invasion. 

What’s inside the aid shipment

The convoy included two Ford Transit vans, three Mercedes ambulances, five Scania 8×8 DROPS trucks, eight 15-seater Ford Transit minibuses, and sixteen double cab Ford Rangers. In addition, three Reacher Robots were delivered to support demining operations as part of a multinational coalition.

The donation supports the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of 57 countries and the European Union that delivers military equipment and assistance to Ukraine. Ireland contributes to two non-lethal sub-coalitions under this group: a demining capability coalition co-led by Lithuania and Iceland, and an IT coalition co-led by Estonia and Luxembourg.

A fragment of a Russian military drone Gerbera washed up on a beach in Latvia’s Ventspils district on 18 September, drawing a response from the country’s armed forces and prompting renewed attention to Russia’s unmanned aircraft activity near NATO borders.

Latvian beachgoers find tail of washed-up Russian drone

The National Armed Forces of Latvia (NBS) reported that a tail section of a drone was discovered on a beach in Vārve parish, Ventspils district. Authorities said it was washed in from the Baltic Sea.

Sargs says Latvia’s State Police said initial information showed no threat had been identified at the site. Nonetheless, NBS dispatched an unexploded ordnance disposal team to analyze the wreckage and determine next steps.

“Such cases are not uncommon along the Latvian coast – remnants of munitions or fragments of other military objects are regularly found washed ashore,” Sargs noted.

Identified as Gerbera drone used by Russian forces

Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi noted that the wreckage was preliminarily identified as part of a Russian Gerbera drone. This model is actively used by Russia in its war against Ukraine and in provocations targeting NATO countries.

Recent Gerbera/Shahed incidents

In July, the first confirmed flights of Gerbera drones into the airspace of Baltic countries were recorded. These incidents reportedly caused serious concern among Lithuanian military and government officials.

The same type of drone was previously discovered in Lithuania in early August, having entered from Belarusian territory. 

On 10 September, Russia launched a mass incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, further confirming the growing threat along NATO’s eastern flank.

On 13 September, a Russian drone violated Romania’s airspace.

US President Trump has issued a set of sweeping demands to the European Union on how to escalate pressure on Russia — but unnamed European diplomats told The Wall Street Journal they believe the plan is intentionally designed to fail.

Trump’s Russia demands spark alarm in Brussels

According to WSJ, Trump urged the EU to immediately halt purchases of Russian oil, impose tariffs on India and China over their trade with Moscow, and seize frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense.

The EU delayed a new sanctions package this week as leaders scrambled to respond. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said after speaking with Trump that the bloc would push for additional restrictions on Russia’s banking sector, crypto market, and energy system.  This response falls far short of what Washington is pressing for.

Ukraine and Poland will sign a new agreement focused on drone operations and military cooperation, RMF24 reports. The pact, announced during an unannounced visit by Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz to Kyiv on 18 September, will include drone crew training and draw heavily on Ukraine’s battlefield experience.

Poland and Ukraine to cooperate on drone warfare under new agreement

RMF24 says that Kosiniak-Kamysz stated in Kyiv that the two countries will sign an agreement covering cooperation between their defense ministries and joint efforts in mastering drone operations.

“We will sign an agreement on cooperation between the ministries, and also on acquiring skills in drone operations,” he said.

According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish troops will work with their Ukrainian counterparts to develop skills in using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He added that another focus will be improving Polish forces’ capabilities based on the experience gained by Ukraine during its war against Russian forces.

“Another issue is improving the skills of our troops based on experience from Ukraine,” the minister said.

He emphasized that implementing battlefield lessons is vital not just for Poland’s military reforms, but for NATO as a whole.

“The implementation of lessons from the new battlefield is crucial for the transformation of the Polish Armed Forces and, in general, for the transformation of NATO,” he said.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also highlighted the importance of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC) located in Bydgoszcz. He said it is “the only institution that tangibly connects NATO and Ukraine,” and noted it will be central to further defense integration and drone warfare development.

Polish minister acknowledges tensions but stresses shared strategic goal

Kosiniak-Kamysz acknowledged that tensions occasionally arise between the two countries but stressed that the broader goal of confronting the real threat must remain the focus.

“I am aware of the emotions that sometimes grow between us, between Poland and Ukraine, but they cannot obscure our strategic goal. The enemy is elsewhere. He cannot be sought in ourselves or between us,” he said.

The Standard reports that three people were arrested in the town of Grays, Essex, England on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence services. The UK police operation reflects growing concern over foreign states using British citizens as local proxies.

Suspects arrested under new spy law in UK suburb

According to The Standard, two men and a woman were detained in Grays, a commuter town located east of London. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were made as part of a national security investigation targeting individuals believed to be working with or for Russian intelligence.

Authorities stated that the suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, under section 3 of the National Security Act (NSA), 2023. The suspects include a 41-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman arrested at the same residential address, and a 46-year-old man arrested separately nearby.

All three were transferred to a police station in London for questioning. Following searches at both Essex locations, the individuals were released on bail with conditions. The investigation is ongoing.

Police say Russia is now recruiting local “proxies” in the UK

Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the UK’s Counter Terrorism Command, warned that recent cases show a rising trend of British citizens being recruited as proxies by hostile intelligence agencies.

“Through our recent national security casework, we’re seeing an increasing number of who we would describe as ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services,” Murphy said.

He cited a separate case involving two British men who were recruited by the Wagner Group — a Russian state-affiliated paramilitary organization — to commit arson against a warehouse linked to Ukraine. The men have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing. Murphy clarified that the Essex arrests are unrelated to that incident but urged anyone contacted by foreign actors to think twice.

“This kind of activity will be investigated and anyone found to be involved can expect to be prosecuted,” he said, adding that there could be “very serious consequences for those who are convicted.”

Senior Kremlin officials, likely with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval, pushed Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak out of his position after repeated clashes over the war in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 17 September. Russian state media outlet RBK stated that two sources familiar with the situation confirmed Kozak “resigned” from his post over the weekend of 13 to 14 September. RBK noted he is now considering business offers following his exit.

The allegedly dissenting voice in 2022

Russian political scientist Arkady Dubnov reported on 17 September that sources in Moscow said Kozak “voluntarily” left his position. Dubnov highlighted that Kozak was the only official at the 21 February 2022 Security Council meeting who opposed launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian journalist Alexey Venediktov also confirmed this account.

Kozak reportedly attempted to negotiate with Ukraine at the start of the war, proposing that Kyiv renounce NATO membership. Putin allegedly rejected the talks because he also wanted to annex Ukrainian territory, according to ISW.

Collapse of influence inside Kremlin

The New York Times reported on 10 August that both Western and Russian sources said Kozak’s influence declined sharply in recent months, aaccording to ISW. He reportedly urged Putin to stop fighting in Ukraine, begin peace talks, and reduce the power of Russia’s security services. Those disagreements placed him at odds with Putin and his allies, including Kremlin Deputy Head Sergei Kiriyenko.

Putin signed a decree on 29 August abolishing two Kremlin departments Kozak supervised: the Department for Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and the Department for Cross-Border Cooperation. Analysts assess this was likely in preparation for Kozak’s removal. Reports on 17 September that he is considering business positions refuted earlier claims that he was a candidate for Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Northwestern Federal DIstrict, showing the Kremlin opted to remove him entirely from state structures.

Reports indicate Kiriyenko has also recently assumed control of the Kremlin’s Moldova portfolio. This handover consolidates Kiriyenko’s power and responsibilities within the Russian Presidential Administration.

“Putin’s likely decision to push an established senior Kremlin official from his inner circle after expressing a desire to end the war in Ukraine further indicates that Putin and his advisors are coalescing around their commitment to continue the war in Ukraine and around Putin’s maximalist war demands,” ISW assessed.

Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Salavat refinery in Bashkortostan on 18 September, about 1,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The attack targeted the heart of the facility — a crude distillation unit, essential for the refinery’s operations.

Strike hits Gazprom’s Salavat refinery

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ published video clips and photos showing flames at the Gazprom Nefetkhim Salavat refinery, located in the city of Salavat in Russia’s Bashkortostan.

The channel wrote that the drone which flew through the night and was tracked in the morning eventually hit its target during the day-time.

Exilenova+ reported the strike occurred around 10:00 and damaged the ELOU-AVT-4 distillation unit. The channel commented that Russian refineries are vulnerable even at a distance of 1,300 kilometers, praising the successful hit.

Another post from Exilenova+ shared coordinates of the damaged site and noted that the ELOU-AVT-4 unit is a key facility.

Local reports of explosions

Russian news Telegram channel Astra said residents of Salavat reported explosions and then heavy smoke after the strike. The channel noted that confirmation of details was limited at the time, but eyewitness videos showed the burning facility.

Bashkortostan’s head Radyi Khabirov later confirmed the attack. He called it a “terrorist attack” on Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat, claiming two aircraft-type drones were used.

“Two aircraft-type drones attacked the facility. There are no dead or injured. Passive and active defenses were triggered, and the plant’s security opened fire to destroy them. We are determining the extent of the damage. The fire is now being extinguished, and all services are on site,” Khabirov stated.

Strategic importance of the refinery

Gazprom Neftkhim Salavat is one of the largest petrochemical and oil-processing factories in southern Bashkortostan. Astra reported it produces more than 150 types of products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, bitumen, and polyethylene. In 2024 the company reported revenue of 303 billion rubles and net profit of 4.4 billion.

The refinery processes up to 10 million tons of crude annually, Militarnyi wrote. The defense outlet stressed that the ELOU-AVT-4 unit handles primary crude purification, making it crucial for the plant’s entire production cycle. Militarnyi added that disruption of the unit would have serious consequences for the enterprise.

Previous strikes in Bashkortostan

Salavat was previously targeted in May 2024, when a drone hit the pumping station of the same oil facility. Earlier this month on 13 September, drones also struck two Bashneft refineries in Ufa, damaging installations and pipelines. On 16 September, Khabirov signed an order banning publication of information about drone strikes in Bashkortostan.

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

Ukraine presents VATAG heavy robotic ground system

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

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

Designed for the battlefield — not just the backend

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

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

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

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

Estonia is building new fortifications along its eastern frontier as part of a sweeping Baltic defense effort against possible Russian invasions in the future. ERR reports that construction has started on a 40 km anti-tank trench on the border with Russia.

40 km trench planned on southeast border

According to ERR, the work has begun in villages along the country’s southeast border. The trench is part of a defense system designed to slow and block armored advances. The first section near Vinski village in Meremäe measures half a kilometer. Future trenches will be dug inside delay fences and equipped with dragon’s teeth and razor wire.

Natural barriers in northeast, fortifications in southeast

Colonel Lieutenant Ainar Afanasjev, pioneer inspector at the Estonian General Staff, said Estonia’s northeast already benefits from natural defenses. The Narva River and Lake Peipus act as barriers. Southeast Estonia lacks such features, so the plan calls for 40 km of trenches across vulnerable ground. Marshlands will remain untouched, as heavy vehicles cannot pass through them. By the end of 2027, Estonia expects more than 40 km of trenches completed along with about 600 bunkers, either dug in or stored near original sites.

Defense zone stretches 100 km

The Baltic defense line in Estonia will extend about 100 km along the eastern border and 40 km inland. This year, two strongpoints will be built: one in northeast Estonia and another in the southeast. Each strongpoint will consist of up to 14 bunkers. According to Armin Siilivask of the Estonian Center for Defense Investment’s procurement department, storage areas are also being prepared. Materials now placed in pre-storage sites will be transported closer to strongpoints to ensure quick deployment.

Since his release from a Russian prison, Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khyliuk has barely been off the phone. BBC reports that he spent three and a half years in Russian captivity after being detained in the first days of the full-scale invasion. He was freed last month in a prisoner swap, one of eight civilians released in a rare move by Moscow.

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, most exchanges between Russia and Ukraine have involved soldiers. The return of eight civilians, including Dmytro, came in a group of 146 Ukrainians. They did not disclose the exact terms of the deal, only that it included “people Russia was interested in.” One source told BBC that some of them were residents of Russia’s Kursk region, evacuated during Ukraine’s incursion in 2024.

Crowds gathered waving Ukrainian flags when the freed men returned, many of them emaciated from years behind bars. Stepping off the bus, Dmytro immediately phoned his mother to say he was finally free. His parents are elderly and unwell, and he had long feared never seeing them again.

A testimony of constant cruelty

Speaking to BBC after his release, Dmytro described brutal treatment in multiple Russian facilities.

“They grabbed us and literally dragged us to the prison and on the way they beat us with rubber batons shouting things like, ‘How many people have you killed?’” he recalled.

Guards sometimes set dogs on prisoners.

“The cruelty was really shocking and it was constant,” he said.

He was never charged with a crime. In the first year, he endured starvation, losing more than 20 kg in a few months. He lost more than 20kg in the first few months. He also saw soldiers tortured with electric shocks during interrogations. The sounds of their pain and the bruises on their bodies left lasting impressions.

Captivity begins at home

The ordeal started in 2022 in Kozarovychi, his family’s village near Kyiv. As he and his father Vasyl checked damage to their home during Russia’s assault on the capital, troops detained them. Both men were bound, blindfolded, and held in a basement under warehouses used as a Russian base.

Vasyl was released, but Dmytro was transferred deeper into Russia. His parents later received just two scraps of paper from him. One note read, “I’m alive, I’m well. Everything’s ok.” For months, they feared the worst.

Families left waiting

BBC reports that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians remain missing. Officials have confirmed that only a fraction are in Russian prisons. Moscow does not publish lists. In Dmytro’s area alone, 43 men remain unaccounted for.

One of them is Volodymyr Loburets, detained at the same time as Dmytro. He has a new grandson he has never met. His wife Vira told BBC,

“I had a husband – and now I don’t.”

Families are frustrated because the Ukrainian government will not swap Russian soldiers for civilian hostages.

Ukraine’s impossible choices

Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets told BBC that dealing with Russia is like “playing chess with an opponent who stands up, pulls on boxing gloves and punches you.” Ukraine has no Russian civilian prisoners to trade, while sending soldiers back in return for civilians would trigger more abductions. Only one previous exchange involved Ukrainians accused of collaboration. It is unclear if that approach will be repeated.

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Home again, but changed forever

For Dmytro, the long wait is almost over. He is recovering in a Kyiv hospital before returning to his village. His mother Halyna can hardly mention his name without crying.

“When Dima called, he told me to be calm, that I shouldn’t cry anymore. But we haven’t seen our son for three and a half years!” she said.

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Back home, his house still bears shrapnel scars from Russia’s advance. He admits returning requires adjustment.

“So the trees are the same, the buildings are the same. But you understand this is a different country. You’re in a different reality,” he said.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that special forces units struck the Saratov oil refinery overnight on 16 September. Explosions and fire were reportedly recorded at the site, a facility that plays a critical role in fueling Russia’s armed forces. At the same time, Ukrainian Telegram channels reported a possible hit on another Russian refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

Strike on Saratov refinery

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian special operations forces, in coordination with other defense units, carried out the attack in Saratov Oblast. Explosions and a blaze were recorded near the refinery after the overnight strike. Officials said the full results of the attack are still being clarified.

The Saratov refinery produces more than 20 types of oil products, including gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and various grades of bitumen. It also processes vacuum gas oil and technical sulfur. In 2023, the refinery’s output reached 4.8 million tons. Ukrainian authorities stressed that the facility has been directly involved in meeting the supply needs of Russia’s armed forces.

Euromaidan Press could not independently confirm the fire and damage to the refinery in Saratov. 

Reported hit on Kstovo refinery

Ukrainian Telegram channels reported that another refinery in Russia may also have been hit. Telegram channel Supernova+ shared photos of a distant smoke and wrote that in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, a refinery flare was burning more intensely due to an emergency pressure discharge following a strike.

The information has not been officially confirmed.

Part of wider Ukrainian campaign

This strike follows a pattern of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

• On 30 August, defense forces hit the Krasnodar and Syzran refineries.
• On 5 September, the General Staff confirmed hits on the Ryazan refinery.
• On 13 September, Ukrainian drones attacked the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Ufa.
• On 14 September, a Ukrainian drone strike ignited a major fire at the Kirishi refinery near St Petersburg, forcing a key unit offline

Ukraine’s 11 Army Corps reported late on 15 September that Russian forces tried to infiltrate Yampil in Donetsk Oblast by disguising themselves as civilians. The saboteurs were detected, blocked, and neutralized in a sweeping counter-operation.

Russians disguised as civilians in Yampil

According to the 11 Army Corps, Russian troops violated international humanitarian law by wearing civilian clothes and posing as residents. Groups of disguised soldiers hid in detached houses, basements, and other structures while using civilians who had not evacuated as shields. Ukrainian forces conducted anti-terrorist measures that revealed, surrounded, and neutralized the infiltrators.

The statement stressed that Yampil and nearby territory remain fully under the control of Ukraine’s defense forces. Russia achieved no tactical results, and all attempts to carry out reconnaissance or sabotage in the settlement failed.

Deepstate tracks infiltration attempts

Earlier on 15 September, Ukrainian OSINT project Deepstate also reported that Russian infiltrators in civilian clothing had entered Yampil. Around 19:00, the project wrote that defense forces immediately began hunting them down.

“Russians are hiding in houses, basements, and cellars,” Deepstate noted, adding that the presence of residents who stayed behind made operations more difficult.

The project said Yampil had been a repeated target for infiltration and warned of possible increased activity, as Russian forces see the settlement as critical for positions east of it. Deepstate also reported that part of Yampil remained a gray zone, with active fighting ongoing. Updates to its interactive war map appear with some delay.

Sky News reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin is trying to trick US President Donald Trump in order to escape sanctions, while NATO continues to face Russian provocations.

Putin “doing everything to avoid sanctions”

Speaking to Sky News at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said the Russian leader is exploiting diplomacy with Trump to buy time in order to “be better prepared.” He argued that Putin’s aim is not peace, but to stop the United States from imposing further penalties. According to him,

“He’s doing everything he can to avoid sanctions, to prevent US and Trump from putting sanctions on him, and if you keep postponing applying sanctions any further, then the Russians will be better prepared.”

Zelenskyy warned that Putin seeks to escape isolation, describing the Alaska summit last month as a tool for the Kremlin to gain international visibility. He said,

“He should have received a setback in this war and stop, but instead, he received de-isolation. He got the photos with President Trump. He received public dialogue, and I think this opens the doors for Putin into some other summits and formats.”

“He understands only the language of force”

The Ukrainian president stressed that Moscow will not be persuaded by arguments or negotiations. Instead, he said Russia’s leader responds only to strength.

“He understands force. That’s his language. That is the language he understands,” Zelenskyy told Sky News, calling on Europe and the United States to act quicker.

He added that while sanctions are in place, they are not enough to stop Russia’s war.

Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of not giving Putin “space,” warning that every delay in sanctions strengthens Moscow’s position. He argued that Western hesitation risks leaving Russia better prepared for further aggression.

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

Tusk wrote:

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

Drone spotted over presidential residence

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

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

Officials warn against hasty conclusions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Built for real combat conditions

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

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

AI-driven navigation, but no killer robot

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

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

From failure to battlefield resilience

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

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

Timeline and domestic focus

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

What’s next for Bufalo?

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

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

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

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

Ukrainian drone units intercept rare Orion UAV

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

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

A coordinated strike by multiple Ukrainian units

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

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

Background on the Orion drone program

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

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

Two separate train derailments hit Russia’s Leningrad Oblast on 14 September—one involving 15 fuel tanker cars, the other killing a train driver. Just a day earlier, three Rosgvardiya personnel were killed by an explosive device planted on railway tracks in Oryol Oblast. Russian authorities are investigating all incidents as possible sabotage.

15 tankers derail in Luzhsky district

According to Russian Governor of Leningrad Oblast Alexandr Drozdenko, a locomotive pulling 15 empty tank cars derailed in Luzhsky district at the Stroganovo-Mshinskaya rail section. No casualties were reported. Drozdenko stated that two emergency recovery trains were dispatched from St. Petersburg to the site of the incident.

As a result of the derailment, train movement was blocked in two directions. Ten suburban electric trains were delayed or canceled.

Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported on the derailment, and another channel, Supernova+, claimed sabotage affected two separate railway segments in Leningrad Oblast—specifically in Luzhsky and Gatchina districts.

Train driver dies in second derailment near Semrino

Russian news Telegram channel Astra reported another derailment in the same oblast near the station of Semrino, located in Gatchina district. In this incident, a lone locomotive left the tracks. The train driver was trapped inside the cabin and later died in the ambulance, Astra wrote.

Governor Drozdenko confirmed that sappers were deployed to the scene. He also noted that investigators were examining the version of sabotage.

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Three Rosgvardiya members killed in Oryol Oblast rail explosion

On 13 September, an explosive device detonated on the Maloarkhangelsk–Glazunovka rail segment in Oryol Oblast, killing two Rosgvardia national guard members and injuring another. One day later, the injured officer died, bringing the total death toll to three.

Governor of Oryol Oblast Andrei Klychkov initially confirmed the deaths of two personnel, and a day later, he announced the third fatality. Acting Governor of Kursk Oblast Aleksandr Khinshtein later clarified that all three victims were Rosgvardiya officers.

A major fire broke out at the Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) refinery near St Petersburg overnight on 14 September after Ukrainian drones struck the facility. Telegram channels shared videos showing a drone strike and flames at the site.

Ukrainian drones strike fuel-producing giant near St Petersburg

The refinery, located in the city of Kirishi in Leningrad Oblast, roughly 100 km southeast of St Petersburg and 800 km north of Ukraine’s border, is among Russia’s top 10 oil-processing facilities.

According to Ukrainian Telegram channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+, drones struck the plant, triggering a fire. Satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS wildfire monitoring platform confirmed a high-temperature anomaly over the facility starting at 3:56 on 14 September, Militarnyi noted.

Second strike on the same facility in six months

This is not the first time the KINEF refinery has come under attack. Ukrainian drones targeted the same facility on 8 March 2025, damaging a fuel storage tank. At the time, governor Drozdenko also blamed the damage from a direct drone hit on “debris”: “During the fall of debris, the external structure of one of the reservoirs was damaged,” he wrote back then.

Meanwhile, Astra also relayed a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense claiming Russian air defense forces had intercepted 80 Ukrainian drones overnight across several oblasts. According to the ministry, this included 2 drones over Leningrad Oblast, where Kirishi is located, along with other interceptions over Bryansk, occupied Crimea, Smolensk, Kaluga, Novgorod, Oryol, Ryazan, and Rostov oblasts, and the Azov Sea area.

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

Kyiv hits Vtorovo hub again

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

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

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

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

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

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First strike on 7 September

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

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

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

Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russian state media has acknowledged growing fuel shortages across the country. Meanwhile, Russian officials are downplaying Ukraine’s deep strike campaign role in creating the crisis.

Widespread shortages across Russian regions

ISW says Russian Independent Fuel Union told state newspaper Izvestiya on 10 September 2025 that over 10 federal subjects experience fuel shortages. Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, and Rostov oblasts face supply disruptions. Far Eastern regions and occupied Crimea also struggle with fuel availability.

State Duma Anti-Monopoly Committee Expert Council member Dmitry Tortev told Izvestiya that local fuel shortages are becoming widespread. Many gas stations haven’t received refinery deliveries for several weeks. Some stations have shut down completely.

Officials blame seasonal demands

ISW noted:

“Russian officials downplayed the impact of Ukraine’s strike campaign, attributing the fuel shortages to peak vacation season and agricultural demands in August and September 2025.”

ISW continues assessing that Ukraine’s deep strike campaign impacts Russia’s domestic gasoline market. The strikes exacerbate shortages and cause price spikes that will likely push inflation upward. ISW notes that Russian state media openly discussing gasoline shortages suggests the issue is penetrating mainstream Russian society.

Israel and Ukraine have unveiled a joint security operation to safeguard tens of thousands of Jewish worshipers traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, The Jerusalem Post reports. The operation is designed to protect pilgrims despite the ongoing Russian war and rising missile and drone strikes.

Joint deployment for Uman pilgrimage

On 11 September, Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir announced the plan after hosting Ukrainian Ambassador Yevhen Korniichuk, Israeli security officials, and representatives of the Haredi Orthodox community in Jerusalem on 10 September.

The mission also includes medical teams and coordination with Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi, Moshe Reuven Azman. His teams will be stationed at border crossings and on the ground to support worshippers during the holiday.

Officials highlight significance of cooperation

“The State of Israel places supreme importance on the safety of travelers,” Ben-Gvir said.

He welcomed the cooperation with Ukraine, calling it an “unprecedented operation” to ensure a safe and joyful pilgrimage.

Ambassador Korniichuk stressed Ukraine’s commitment despite wartime conditions.

“Ukraine, despite the burden of the Russian war and the severe security situation on the ground, is committed to holding a safe and respectful event in close cooperation with Israel,” he said.

Rabbi Azman praised the coordination, saying he welcomed the effort “to ensure that every worshipper can arrive with peace of mind and complete safety.” 

Pilgrimage grows despite war

Since the 1990s, Israeli pilgrims have made up the largest group attending Uman for Rosh Hashanah, with tens of thousands traveling annually. Many arrive through organized groups that manage logistics in coordination with Ukrainian authorities and local volunteers. In July, Ukraine declared Rabbi Nachman’s grave a national heritage site.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Shmyhal announced on 11 September that German defense giant Rheinmetall will build a new ammunition plant in Ukraine, following productive talks in London.

German defense giant expands Ukrainian operations

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Shmyhal met with Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger in London during the Defense Security and Equipment International Exhibition and Conference. The meeting finalized procedures for launching new joint production capabilities between the two nations.

Shmyhal confirmed that land was allocated on 9 September in a secure Ukrainian region. The new facility will manufacture Rheinmetall shells specifically for Ukraine’s Defense Forces needs. This development represents a significant expansion of the existing cooperation between Ukraine and the German defense contractor.

Broader defense cooperation beyond ammunition

The partnership extends beyond shell production into multiple defense sectors. Both sides discussed developing capabilities for armored vehicle repair and manufacturing within Ukraine. Rheinmetall’s product lineup includes several new systems that could strengthen Ukrainian Defense Forces capabilities.

Air defense cooperation formed another key discussion point during the London talks. Shmyhal and Papperger explored joint development of enhanced anti-drone solutions. These systems would help Ukrainian forces more effectively counter enemy drone threats.

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

Primorsk port hit by Ukrainian drones in overnight attack

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

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

Drones across Leningrad Oblast

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

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

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

Flights disrupted at Pulkovo Airport

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

Russia claims massive drone interception

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

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that the Kremlin is intensifying its campaign to destabilize the Balkans, likely as part of a broader effort to divide and distract Europe.

“The Kremlin has previously leveraged its relationship with Republika Srpska to further influence the Balkans, sow divisions in Europe, and undermine the US-backed Dayton Accords to throw the Balkans into turmoil,” ISW noted.

Lavrov meets Dodik in Moscow, targets Dayton peace framework

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, in Moscow on 9 September. Republika Srpska is the Serbian political entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lavrov and Dodik’s meeting marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Accords, which ended the 1992–1995 Bosnian War.

At a press conference following the meeting, Lavrov declared that the Dayton Accords brought an end to what he called NATO “aggression” during its 1995 Operation Deliberate Force. He stated that Russia is one of the guarantors of the December 1995 agreement and accused the West of having “trampled” the deal to seize “undivided control” over Bosnia and Herzegovina while depriving Serbs of their rights.

ISW: Kremlin aims to dismantle Dayton Accords to sow European division

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed on 11 September that the Kremlin continues its attempts to destabilize the Balkans and dismantle the Dayton Accords. According to ISW, this effort is part of a broader Kremlin campaign to fracture and distract Europe.

Lavrov warned that “destroying the consensus that underlies Bosnia and Herzegovina is… an invitation to another war in the Balkans.” He also praised Dodik’s plan to hold a referendum in Republika Srpska in October, claiming that “the West does not like referendums,” including Russia’s 2014 Crimea sham plebiscite, which he described as “transparent.”

ISW noted that Lavrov and Dodik met on the same day that Russian drones entered Polish airspace in a major incursion, suggesting a coordinated attempt to test NATO and EU unity.

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

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

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

Ukraine downs 33 drones—but six hit civilian targets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local authorities report: Russia targets civilians across Ukraine

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

Astra has identified the Russian ship hit in the Black Sea by a Ukrainian aerial long-range drone on 10 September as Spasatel Ilyin. The captain was hospitalized with shrapnel injuries. Ukraine’s intelligence confirmed earlier today that the vessel was damaged and disabled.

Spasatel Ilyin confirmed as the target

According to Russian news Telegram channel Astra, a Ukrainian drone struck Spasatel Ilyin, an MPSV07-class vessel, near Yuzhnaya Ozereevka during the day on 10 September. The drone hit the ship’s bridge, injuring the captain, Roman Goroshkov. He was hospitalized with multiple wounds.

Local authorities did not acknowledge the incident. The mayor only reported drone debris allegedly hitting a non-residential building near the city and denied any casualties.

Ship disabled, systems destroyed

On the morning of 11 September, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said that Russia’s Russian Black Sea Fleet ship was struck near Novorossiysk. According to the report, the drone destroyed the ship’s navigation, communication, and electronic reconnaissance systems. The vessel was declared disabled and in need of expensive repairs.

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Vessel used for reconnaissance

Though officially listed as a civilian rescue vessel, Spasatel Ilyin was reportedly used for military and intelligence purposes. It was equipped with sonar, diving systems, and electronic surveillance tools, according to HUR.

A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet went down in Zaporizhzhia Oblast during a combat mission on 11 September. The pilot, Major Oleksandr Borovyk, was killed in the incident. The cause of the crash remains unclear.

Su-27 fighter crashes during mission

The Ukrainian Air Force’s 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade reported that around 13:30, a Su-27 jet under the control of 30-year-old Major Oleksandr Mykolaiovych Borovyk crashed under unknown circumstances. The aircraft was performing a combat task in the Zaporizhzhia direction — southern Ukraine — when contact was lost.

Jet involved in strikes on Russian air defenses

According to Ukrainian military news outlet Militarnyi, Su-27 fighters of the 39th Brigade have been used actively during the Russian invasion of Ukraine for missions targeting Russian air defense systems with anti-radiation missiles. They also serve as carriers of precision-guided aerial bombs, including JDAM, AASM, and GBU-39.

The aircraft are also engaged in Ukraine’s air defense, intercepting Russian missile and drone attacks deep inside the country.

Second Su-27 loss for Ukraine this year

This marks the second Ukrainian Su-27 loss in 2025. In April, another fighter jet crashed while repelling an attack by Russian strike drones. That pilot survived after successfully ejecting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Britain to manufacture at scale under new defense strategy

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

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

Drone production surge and funding spike

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

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

Hindustan Times reports that Indian authorities have issued a fresh warning to citizens after new reports emerged of men being lured into joining the Russian Army under false pretenses and deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine.

India urges citizens to avoid Russian military recruitment

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong advisory on 11 September 2025 warning Indian nationals against accepting any offers to join the Russian Army, calling such a course “fraught with danger,” Hindustan Times says. The warning comes after The Hindu reported that two Indian men, speaking by phone from Selydove — a town in Donetsk Oblast captured by Russia in November 2024 — said they had been tricked into traveling to Russia on the promise of construction jobs and were then forced into combat roles in Ukraine.

The men said they were part of a group of at least 15 Indian nationals who had entered Russia over the past six months using student or visitor visas. According to the report, the agent who had promised construction work instead sent them to the battlefield. Their claims add to growing fears that Indian citizens are being recruited into foreign armies through deception, placing them at grave risk.

Ministry demands release of Indians forced into frontline roles

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India has raised the matter with Russian authorities in both Moscow and Delhi.

“We are also in touch with the families of the affected Indian citizens,” he said.

Jaiswal emphasized that the government has repeatedly warned citizens over the past year about the dangers of joining the Russian military.

“We once again strongly urge all Indian nationals to stay away from any offers to join the Russian army, as this is a course fraught with danger,” he added.