Sep 28, 2026
Around 2,000 civilians, including 50 children, face starvation in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky as Russian forces block road access and shoot down aid deliveries. Ukraine has used drones to airlift 4 tonnes of food supplies and brought the humanitarian crisis before the United Nations.
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed a drone strike on the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, located approximately 400 kilometers from the launch point. The attack, carried out by the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces and the 414th Separate Brigade, caused a fire at the facility.
Russia announced strikes on Ukrainian defence industry facilities and vessels, while drone attacks on Kyiv killed at least seven people including a 14-year-old boy and injured over 50. The escalating strikes have also forced the closure of Ukraine's largest steel plant.
Swedish and Finnish fighter jets conducted their first joint operation to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland in international airspace, marking enhanced Nordic defense cooperation.
Russia could quickly restore up to 80% of its grain terminal capacity in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov if diplomatic efforts lead to a ceasefire halting mutual attacks with Ukraine, according to a Reuters analysis of industry data. The finding comes amid ongoing discussions over Black Sea shipping arrangements.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, calling for a diplomatic resolution to tensions following the US-Israel conflict with Tehran. The discussions came amid broader diplomatic engagement at the UN, including separate talks between Tehran and Washington.
Danish intelligence services warned that Russia is likely to intensify hybrid warfare including sabotage, cyberattacks and drone incidents against NATO countries in coming months, though they assessed no imminent risk of direct military attack on the alliance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready for a bilateral energy ceasefire with Russia after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Zelenskyy also confirmed Trump signaled openness to licensing Patriot missile production in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump announced the U.S. is working on a deal to purchase potash fertilizer from Belarus at lower prices than Canada currently provides, pivoting toward a Russian ally amid deteriorating trade relations with Canada. The move has drawn criticism given Belarus's role in supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's Moscow Oil Refinery, owned by Gazprom Neft, completely halted crude oil processing after Ukrainian drones struck both primary distillation units on September 20, causing fires. Russia's total oil refining capacity has reportedly fallen 45% following the attack.
European Union envoys agreed to lift sanctions imposed over Russia's war in Ukraine on businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, as long as no EU government objects within a set timeframe. The move has drawn criticism from Ukraine and comes as part of a broader sanctions review.
Vladimir Putin's United Russia party secured a record supermajority with approximately 355 of 450 State Duma seats in Russia's first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in a tightly controlled vote that excluded opposition parties critical of the Kremlin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and agreed to meet in New York during UN General Assembly week. Zelenskyy said the meeting "could change a lot" in terms of finding a resolution to the 4.5-year war with Russia.
The State Department approved a potential $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Ukraine, including S-300 Clone missiles, GAM-67 missiles, counter-drone radar systems, and mobile launcher modification kits requested by Kyiv to defend against ongoing Russian attacks.
Russia opened polling stations for a three-day parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin frames as a referendum on support for the war in Ukraine. United Russia is expected to win decisively, with most anti-war candidates barred from running.
Britain has recorded over 340 unauthorized drone incidents at military sites in the past year, with security breaches occurring almost daily. Officials warn the surveillance activity, linked to concerns about Russia and Iran, could escalate from passive monitoring to active threats.
Ukraine fired a barrage of drones targeting 16 Russian regions as Russia held parliamentary elections, the first since the invasion began. The Black Sea resort city of Sochi temporarily closed beaches due to threats of Ukrainian sea drone attacks.
Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned Britain's chargé d'affaires Danae Dholakia on Friday to formally protest what Moscow described as London's continued increase in weapons supplies to Ukraine. The Kremlin characterized UK support for Ukraine as an endorsement of 'terrorism' amid escalating diplomatic tensions.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Russian hybrid attacks against Europe and France have intensified in recent weeks, ordering measures to protect critical infrastructure and defense industry sites. Hybrid warfare includes non-military methods such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns designed to destabilize countries without triggering conventional armed conflict.
The FBI has issued a warning that Russia is planning targeted assassinations on US soil and in European countries that support Ukraine. The alert comes as Russian dissident Roman Dobrokhotov attended a Washington DC conference, highlighting heightened security concerns for Kremlin critics.
A Russian barrage of missiles and drones targeting Ukraine's capital and surrounding region injured at least 19 people, including children, overnight and into Thursday morning. Ukraine's Air Force reported destroying or suppressing 131 aerial targets during the attack.
All 3,000 EU sanctions against individuals helping Russia's war effort could expire by September 21 if no compromise is reached, as France seeks to lift sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov under pressure from Azerbaijan. The dispute coincides with Russia opening new legal challenges over frozen assets and the U.S. expanding sanctions related to deported Ukrainian children.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against five Russian intelligence operatives accused of orchestrating murder-for-hire plots and attacks around the world, including a $25,000 contract to kill a dissident in Lithuania and a plot targeting a Kremlin critic in Washington, D.C. All suspects remain at large.
Russia struck petrol stations in Kyiv and Ukraine hit a Russian oil refinery on September 15, contradicting President Trump's announcement that both nations had agreed to an energy infrastructure truce. The Kremlin called the proposal a "good idea" but both countries denied any agreement was in place.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced at the Air and Space Cyber Conference in Maryland that the United States has deployed 'on-orbit space control weapons' capable of defending against hostile adversary action. The announcement marks the first public acknowledgment of offensive space-based weapons capabilities, widely seen as a warning to China and Russia.
A Russian drone hit the locomotive of a Kyiv-to-Warsaw passenger train just kilometers from the Poland-Ukraine border on Sunday, shortly after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and ex-CIA chief David Petraeus had passed through the area. Ukrainian officials said the strike brought Russian attacks dangerously close to NATO territory.
Leaders from BRICS nations are gathering in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS summit, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit is expected to focus on wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with economic challenges.
Anthropic said it shut down multiple cases of state-sponsored surveillance operations using its Claude AI models, including suspected Russia-linked cyber espionage and efforts to develop biological weapons, while also disrupting an election manipulation campaign targeting Malaysia.
The Russian Orthodox Church has sent bone fragments from the sword hand of a medieval warrior prince who defeated the Mongols to Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, saying the relic would spiritually strengthen soldiers and help achieve victory.
Amnesty International has accused Russia of illegally trafficking foreign nationals to fight in Ukraine by deceiving them with fake job offers, then forcing them into military service upon arrival. The report, based on interviews with prisoners of war, describes victims as typically under 40 from poorer countries lured by promises of employment.
Ukraine launched its deepest-ever attack into Russia, striking gas condensate facilities in the Arctic Yamalia region approximately 3,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The unprecedented long-range drone strikes sparked fires at industrial facilities and demonstrate Ukraine's expanding operational reach.
Ukrainian officials announced that three-way negotiations between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia could resume in early October, following recent visits by US special envoys to both Kyiv and Moscow with new peace proposals. The talks come after a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking the Trump administration's renewed push to end Russia's war in Ukraine following their earlier visit to Moscow.
A Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service in central Kyiv, marking a rare direct hit on a key government building. The attack came during the eighth consecutive day of Russian aerial assaults on the capital.
Norwegian authorities seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic to enforce a $4.22 billion arbitration award won by Ukraine's Naftogaz over assets seized when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia called the action 'piracy.'
A Russian drone fitted with an Nvidia chip and guided entirely by AI killed three Ukrainian civilians in July, according to Ukrainian officials and the New York Times. The attack represents a significant escalation in autonomous weaponry.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported intercepting and destroying 502 Ukrainian drones across various regions overnight, while also hitting a fuel depot in the port of Odesa. Ukraine continues its campaign of long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
A homemade bomb exploded at a restaurant in central Moscow during a private event, killing three people including the woman suspected of carrying the device, and injuring 21 others. Russian authorities are investigating it as a terrorist attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is preparing to mobilize an additional 30,000 North Korean troops and expand domestic conscription as battlefield losses outpace recruitment. Intelligence reports suggest Russia is laying groundwork for a major mobilization wave.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled fresh energy sanctions on Russia and a £210 million deal to support Ukraine's nuclear plants for two years at the G7 summit in France. The announcement came as the BBC reported that arson attacks targeting Starmer last year have been linked to Russia.
A Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber aircraft crashed on Monday in Siberia's Irkutsk region during a training exercise, according to Russia's Defence Ministry. All four crew members successfully ejected from the Soviet-era supersonic bomber.
A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on Ukrainian cities killed at least 11 people and severely damaged the Dormition Cathedral at the Pechersk Lavra monastery complex in Kyiv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Eastern Orthodox Christianity's most sacred landmarks. The attacks came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with leaders of both countries about ending the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated the central bank may cut interest rates at next week's meeting, while praising absent central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina. The announcement comes as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine reaches 1,569 days, now exceeding the length of World War I.
The European Commission announced plans to ban current and former Russian soldiers from entering EU territory as part of its next sanctions package, which also targets Russian banks, cryptocurrency firms, and oil revenues. The proposal has sparked debate about why the measure is limited to military personnel rather than all Russian citizens.
A French Rafale fighter jet operating under NATO command shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia on Monday. Latvian military officials attributed the incursion to Russian electronic warfare, marking the latest security incident along NATO's eastern border amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Germany, France, and the UK have backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's call for direct ceasefire talks with Russia, with European leaders signaling readiness to take a leading role in negotiations with Vladimir Putin in coordination with the United States.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed victory in parliamentary elections held on June 7, 2026, with his pro-Western governing party securing a mandate to continue the country's geopolitical pivot away from traditional ally Russia and toward Europe and the West.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that he met with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in Kyiv, where he asked the former Chelsea FC owner to convey messages to the Kremlin regarding prospects for direct peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin.
Armenians voted in parliamentary elections on June 7, 2026, with exit polls showing the pro-EU ruling party in the lead as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government seeks to loosen ties with Moscow and deepen cooperation with the West despite mounting Russian pressure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's open letter request for direct talks on the four-year conflict, saying he sees no point in such a meeting. Ukrainian officials indicated the letter was aimed at a broader audience including Putin's inner circle and the Russian public.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea on June 8-9 to meet with leader Kim Jong Un, marking his first visit to the country in nearly seven years as China seeks to strengthen ties with its neighbor amid Pyongyang's deepening relations with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for face-to-face peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare public letter on Thursday, proposing a full ceasefire and negotiations in a neutral country. The Kremlin responded by saying Zelenskyy could meet Putin in Moscow "any time."
Military analysts report Russia is escalating air strikes on Ukrainian cities in response to battlefield setbacks, while Ukraine's long-range drone campaign increasingly targets Russian oil infrastructure and pressures the Kremlin.
Ukrainian drones attacked an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, setting it ablaze during the city's annual economic forum promoted by President Putin. In response, Putin announced Russia will bolster its air defenses to counter the escalating Ukrainian drone attacks that have reached deep inside Russian territory.
A Ukrainian drone strike killed 8 people on a bus in Russian-controlled Donetsk, while a separate Russian missile and drone barrage killed at least 22 in Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in attacks by both sides.
Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukrainian cities using more than 70 missiles and 650 attack drones, killing at least 22 people and wounding dozens. The Kremlin accused Kyiv of 'acts of terror' in response to the strikes.
The Russian government announced a ban on jet fuel exports lasting until November 30, 2026, citing ongoing Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries that have caused domestic production declines and fuel shortages. The ban triggered declines in Indian aviation stocks, with SpiceJet and IndiGo shares falling up to 2.5%.
French naval forces boarded and detained the Tagor, a Russian oil tanker circumventing international sanctions, in the Atlantic Ocean. President Macron announced the operation as part of enforcement efforts against sanction violations.
A Russian drone crashed into a 10-story apartment block in eastern Romania near the Ukrainian border during an overnight attack on Ukraine, injuring two people and forcing the evacuation of approximately 70 residents. The incident has heightened tensions on NATO's eastern flank.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of attacking a vocational school in Russian-occupied Luhansk, killing at least six people with reports of up to 18 children trapped in rubble. Russia has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting while Ukraine claims it struck a drone command unit.
Britain has postponed implementing sanctions that would ban imports of diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude oil in third countries, citing supply issues and rising fuel prices caused by the Iran war. The ban was originally announced in October.
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow to date, with Russia reporting over 550 drones intercepted. At least five people were killed, including three in the Moscow region and others in Belgorod, marking an escalation in Ukraine's ability to strike deep inside Russian territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the test launch of the new Sarmat strategic nuclear missile, describing it as 'the most powerful in the world.' State TV broadcast footage of the test conducted by Strategic Missile Forces commander Sergei Karakayev.
Latvia's defense minister resigned following a Ukrainian drone strike on an empty fuel depot in Latvia. Ukrainian officials stated Russia is spoofing Ukraine's drones, causing them to strike Baltic nations instead of Russian targets. This marks the fifth eastern NATO country to see defense minister turnover recently.
Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a significantly reduced Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2026, coinciding with a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The downsized event reflects security concerns and marks a notable departure from previous years' celebrations.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire from May 9-11, 2026, with both sides exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war. The agreement was announced by US President Donald Trump following American mediation efforts.
The Pentagon announced plans to draw down 5,000 US troops stationed in Germany, prompting criticism from senior Republican lawmakers who warn it undermines deterrence against Russia, while Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed confidence there would be no gap in NATO's conventional deterrence capability in Europe.
Russia and China openly supported North Korea at a UN Security Council meeting on nonproliferation, with UN officials warning that DPRK's continued nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development remains a serious concern. Evidence shows vessels loading North Korean coal and iron ore at ports for export to destinations including China.
The entire international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned just days before the prestigious art exhibition opens, amid controversy over Russia's return to the event for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mali's military junta faces unprecedented large-scale attacks from Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups, with rebels declaring the government will fall and demanding Russian forces withdraw from the country.
Russian crypto exchange Grinex halted trading services following a $13-15 million exploit that the exchange attributes to 'Western special services' or 'hostile states.' The exchange has been linked to sanctioned Garantex, with liquidity and users flowing between the platforms.
British Defence Minister John Healey revealed that UK warships and aircraft tracked and forced Russian submarines to abandon attempts to survey undersea cables in the North Sea during a month-long operation, demonstrating the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
The UN Security Council postponed a vote on a Bahrain-drafted resolution that would authorize the use of defensive force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks. China and France opposed the measure, with veto-wielding China making clear its opposition to military authorization.
A Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in occupied Crimea, killing all 29 people on board due to a suspected technical malfunction. The incident adds to a series of Russian military aviation accidents since the invasion of Ukraine.
European intelligence agencies report Russia is in final stages of completing phased shipment of drones, medicine and food to Iran amid ongoing conflict. The Kremlin has denied the Financial Times report as 'lies.'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the US will temporarily allow the sale of Iranian oil shipments already in transit, estimated to add 140 million barrels to the market. The move comes as oil prices hit their highest settlement since July 2022 amid Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Sweden has accused Russia of being behind a surge in GPS jamming incidents over the Baltic Sea, following a September incident where a plane carrying EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was forced to land in Bulgaria using paper maps after its navigation systems were jammed.