Russia is ramping up its attacks on Ukraine’s data centres, with up to 100,000 households in Kyiv cut off from the internet this week, Ukrainian authorities have said.
Attacks on Kyiv’s data centres on Wednesday and Thursday have driven up fears of Moscow’s widening war on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials told the Financial Times said the recent uplift in attacks is a deliberate and targeted escalation.
“Russia has targeted major Ukrainian data centers, seeking to disrupt the flow of information,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on X this week. “Rapid alerts about missile and drone threats are essential - they save lives.
“This is critical civilian infrastructure that ensures people can access life-saving information. It is not a military target. It is essential to keeping everyday life functioning.”
The attacks came before Sweden and Finland scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland, in their first such joint operation.
The Russian aircraft was flying in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland, an area on high alert as Russia’s war with Ukraine spills into Europe in the form of gas pipeline outages, drone sightings and airspace violations.
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Key Points
- Russian drone attack on high-rise building kills 14-year-old
- Russia could launch a military attack against NATO countries, Denmark warns
- Poland suspects Russia behind fire at Starlink satellite station
- Zelensky courts Wall Street as Ukraine seeks investment for reconstruction and winter
- Russia has invited Kim Jong Un to visit the country
Government warned Homes for Ukraine funding cut may ‘send wrong message to Putin’
19:00 , Alex CroftPlanned government cuts to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme could “send the wrong message to Putin” by giving the impression that Western support for Kyiv is faltering, a Conservative former defence secretary has warned.
Starting from January 1, monthly "thank-you" payments for households hosting Ukrainian refugees are set to drop from £350 to £100.
Local authority funding to support the initiative will also be scaled back on the same date, falling from £5,900 per guest to £3,300 per arrival.
Established in response to Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the initiative has supported 181,000 of the 234,000 Ukrainians who fled to the UK to escape the conflict.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Tory former defence secretary Sir Grant Shapps claimed that Andy Burnham’s government had "slipped out" the decision on 15 September, expressing concern over how the move might be perceived.
Read the full report:
Government warned Homes for Ukraine funding cut may ‘send wrong message to Putin’
Trump administration commits $400m Ukraine aid ahead of deadline
18:30 , Suha KidwaiThe Trump administration has formally committed nearly all of the $400 million in military aid approved by Congress for Ukraine, meeting a September 30 expiration deadline.
According to Reuters, $307 million of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package has already been locked in under binding contracts, with the remaining $93 million expected to be approved before the end of the fiscal year.
The move follows bipartisan criticism accusing the Pentagon of "slow-walking" the assistance.
Deliveries include offensive weapons and armoured vehicle spare parts, though Patriot air defence missiles are excluded due to global supply shortages.
The development comes as Trump shows signs of warming toward Kyiv, recently meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in New York to discuss potential ceasefire frameworks.
Putin secures record supermajority in first wartime parliamentary election
18:15 , Suha KidwaiFull results from Russia's parliamentary election show president Vladimir Putin's ruling party, United Russia, to have won the country’s elections.
The Central Election Commission announced Friday that United Russia secured a record 349 out of 450 seats in the State Duma.
Several registered anti-war candidates and independent figures were disqualified or barred from appearing on the ballot ahead of the campaign, including the liberal Yabloko party, which was removed from the list by the Supreme Court.
Turnout reached nearly 60 per cent; the highest for a parliamentary poll in over a decade, boosted by multi-day and electronic voting options.
The election was Russia's first legislative vote since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and included voting in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories, drawing fierce condemnation from Kyiv.
Moldova reports four Russian drones crossed into its territory
18:01 , Alex CroftMoldova reported that four Russian drones crossed into its territory and at least one exploded.
Moldovan defence minister Anatolie Nosatii said the incidents posed a “real danger” to people and the country’s security.
“These incidents can no longer be seen as isolated cases. They pose a real danger to people and Moldova's security,” Nosatii told reporters.
Romania separately said a drone crashed on its territory, while Nato member Poland deployed aircraft twice in response to Russian attacks on neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday.
Turkey submits proposals to Moscow on Black Sea shipping
17:01 , Alex CroftTurkey has submitted proposals to Moscow on the security of shipping in the Black Sea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said according to Interfax on Friday.
But there are still no substantive negotiations under way, he added.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensiy said on Friday that India, Turkey, Egypt and some Middle Eastern countries were taking part in talks on unblocking a grain corridor in the Black Sea, where both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up their attacks on shipping.
One killed and one wounded in drone attack on market in Ukraine's Donetsk, says Russia
16:28 , Alex CroftOne person was killed and one wounded in a drone attack on a market near the Russian-controlled town of Horlivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Friday.
The agency was citing Russian emergency services.
We’ll bring you more on the attack as it comes in.
The critical infrastructure Europe - and Nato - needs to protect from Russia
15:40 , James ReynoldsPutin could attack ports, transport and communications in a bid to test Nato’s resolve.
Experts tell Maira Butt that Nato members must start preparing for the worst:
The critical infrastructure Europe - and Nato - needs to protect from Russia
Zelensky courts Wall Street as Ukraine seeks investment for reconstruction and winter
15:01 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has held talks with senior American business executives in New York as Kyiv seeks private investment to help rebuild an economy battered by more than four years of war.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and brought together representatives of more than two dozen US companies. It was facilitated by Citigroup and the US Chamber of Commerce.
The discussions come at a difficult moment for Ukraine.
Russian attacks have continued to damage infrastructure and key parts of the economy, while Kyiv faces enormous costs from maintaining its war effort. Ukrainian officials are also looking ahead to another winter in which attacks on energy infrastructure could put additional pressure on households and businesses.
The government said the talks focused on helping Ukraine withstand the coming winter as well as supporting its economy and reconstruction. Private companies could play a role in sectors ranging from infrastructure and energy to finance, technology and industrial production.
In full: Zelensky warns against use of AI
14:30 , Alex CroftRecap: Ukraine WILL receive Patriot licences, says Zelensky
14:21 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Donald Trump had at last agreed to issue Ukraine with the licences to produce vital Patriot interceptor missiles in house, reducing reliance on foreign imports and allowing the country to defend against Russian aerial attacks.
“There are concrete agreements regarding Patriot licenses,” the Ukrainian president said.
“At our meeting, President Trump stressed that he had made his final decision: Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Patriot missiles.”
President Trump and I had a meeting where we discussed general matters. After that, our negotiating teams held a separate, long meeting. The agreement is as follows: we will brief the European side and discuss these details with them; the Americans will speak with the Russians;…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 25, 2026
100,000 homes without internet following Russian strikes on data centres, says Ukraine
14:14 , James ReynoldsUkraine has accused Russia of ramping up strikes on its data centres and telecommunications facilities, causing massive disruption to internet access across the capital.
Some 100,000 homes in Kyiv and the surrounding areas were hit by temporary internet outages following strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, Ukraine’s digital transformation ministry said.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday the attacks on the data centres endangered people's lives.
"Russia has targeted major Ukrainian data centers, seeking to disrupt the flow of information. Rapid alerts about missile and drone threats are essential - they save lives," he wrote on X.
Russia's Defence Ministry, in a post on Telegram, said its forces had launched strikes on a number of data centres and logistics and warehouse sites it said were being used for the benefit of the Ukrainian military.
While #UNGA81 is focusing on peace efforts and diplomacy to end the war, Ukraine is once again under heavy Russian attack. Two people have been killed and more than 40 injured in brutal Russian strikes throughout the night and morning.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) September 23, 2026
Russia has targeted major Ukrainian data… pic.twitter.com/GvZlrb1Hcu
Finland asks Musk to expand Starlink coverage for Ukraine
14:01 , Alex CroftFinnish president Alexander Stubb said he has asked Elon Musk to extend Starlink coverage into Russian territory, arguing that it could help Ukraine locate Russian ballistic missile launchers.
Starlink has been a key part of Ukraine’s battlefield communications since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and is also used to support drone operations, but its coverage does not extend over Russia.
Ukraine faces a shortage of air defences against ballistic missiles and believes access to Starlink over Russian territory could improve its ability to identify launch sites.
Nato says it is prepared for sabotage and drone incidents
13:30 , Alex CroftNato secretary general Mark Rutte has reassured member states that the alliance has plans to respond to drone and sabotage incidents, following a Danish warning that Russia could intensify hybrid operations across Europe.
The concerns were heightened by a fire at a Starlink facility in Poland, which Polish officials said was deliberate, although they have not identified those responsible.
Rutte said Nato was prepared for such threats, as European governments increasingly focus on protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, sabotage and other forms of disruption.
Moscow has denied involvement in sabotage incidents attributed to Russia.
13:00 , Alex CroftSwedish, Finnish fighter jets intercept Russian military aircraft
12:31 , Maroosha MuzaffarSwedish and Finnish fighter jets were scrambled on Thursday to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Air Force said on Friday.
The operation was carried out as part of a joint Swedish-Finnish framework for monitoring and protecting the two countries’ airspace, the Finnish Air Force said in a statement.
The fighter jets tracked and identified a group of Russian aircraft, including a transport plane and several fighter jets, it added.
Zelensky broke confidentiality with North Korea POWs disclosure, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung says
12:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarSouth Korean president Lee Jae Myung accused Ukraine of breaking a confidentiality agreement by publicly revealing that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been sent to South Korea.
Zelensky announced the transfer during his UN speech, saying Ukraine had handed over the two POWs to South Korea after consultations.
Lee wrote on X: “I do not know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public, but it is very disappointing.
“The issue of bringing North Korean prisoners to South Korea is a highly sensitive one that could have a major impact on diplomacy, security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula,” he said.
His comments came as opposition parties in South Korea questioned Lee for hiding arrival of North Korean troops in South Korea after it was first revealed by Zelensky.
Lee said those who “harm someone's life, national interest, or security for their own petty gain are called murderers or traitors”.
“Criticising valid and justified confidentiality measures is wrong,” he said.
Russian strikes kill eight across Ukraine
11:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine killed eight people on Thursday, including six people at a vegetable storage facility in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian officials.
Two people were killed in Kyiv, where strikes damaged residential buildings, a maternity hospital, a post office, warehouses and dozens of cars.
Ukraine’s air force said the overnight barrage involved 282 drones as well as an unspecified number of hypersonic and ballistic missiles, authorities said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needed more ballistic interceptors to protect civilians, while claiming Kyiv had reached an agreement for a new package of missiles for Patriot air defence systems.
Europe's crackdown sharply reduces number of shadow fleet ships, report says
11:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarWestern efforts to crack down on Russia’s shadow fleet have sharply reduced the number of vessels sailing under false flags, according to a 25 September report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
The number of such vessels fell from a peak of 101 in October 2025 to 45 by the end of June 2026, as European countries stepped up enforcement and traditional open ship registries tightened oversight, The Kyiv Independent reported.
The crackdown has pushed many vessels towards Russia’s own registry: the number of ships registered under the Russian flag rose 36 per cent to 382 between January 2025 and June 2026, with 87 per cent of the newly registered vessels already under sanctions, CREA said.
Sweden and Finland scramble fighter jets against Russian aircraft in first
10:29 , Alex CroftSweden and Finland have scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland, in their first such joint operation.
The Russian aircraft was flying in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland, an area on high alert as Russia’s war with Ukraine spills into Europe in the form of gas pipeline outages, drone sightings and airspace violations.
“For the first time, Sweden and Finland have conducted a joint operation within the new Quick Reaction Alert cooperation, which among other things enables our fighter aircraft to operate from each other's airbases,” said Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson.
"It is a concrete expression of the readiness and trust we have built together – and an expression of the strength in the Nordic, Nordic-Baltic, and broader NATO cooperation in our part of the world," he wrote on X.
“The Baltic Sea has never been as vulnerable as it is now – but it has also never been better protected than it is right now.”
För första gången har Sverige och Finland genomfört en gemensam insats inom det nya samarbetet Quick Reaction Alert, som bland annat gör det möjligt för våra jaktflyg att utgå från varandras flygbaser.
— Ulf Kristersson (@SwedishPM) September 25, 2026
Det är ett konkret uttryck för den beredskap och den tillit vi har byggt…
Moldova reports four Russian drones crossed into its territory
10:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarMoldova reported that four Russian drones crossed into its territory and at least one exploded.
Moldovan defence minister Anatolie Nosatii said the incidents posed a “real danger” to people and the country’s security.
“These incidents can no longer be seen as isolated cases. They pose a real danger to people and Moldova's security,” Nosatii told reporters.
Romania separately said a drone crashed on its territory, while Nato member Poland deployed aircraft twice in response to Russian attacks on neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday.
Finland asks Musk to expand Starlink coverage for Ukraine
09:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarFinnish president Alexander Stubb said he has asked Elon Musk to extend Starlink coverage into Russian territory, arguing that it could help Ukraine locate Russian ballistic missile launchers.
Starlink has been a key part of Ukraine’s battlefield communications since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and is also used to support drone operations, but its coverage does not extend over Russia.
Ukraine faces a shortage of air defences against ballistic missiles and believes access to Starlink over Russian territory could improve its ability to identify launch sites.
Russia has invited Kim Jong Un to visit the country, the Tass news agency said
09:00 , Alex CroftRussia has extended an official invitation to visit the country to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a deputy foreign minister has said according to the TASS state news agency.
Moscow and Pyongyang have drawn markedly closer in recent years, with North Korea sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine in 2024 and deepening military cooperation under a mutual defence pact.
Russian drone attack on high-rise building kills 14-year-old
08:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarA Russian drone struck a 16-storey residential building in Kyiv’s central Pechersk district on Friday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring at least seven people, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack also caused fires in non-residential buildings in two Kyiv districts.
Separately, one person was killed and another injured in the Odesa region in what the regional governor described as massive Russian strikes on a residential area and logistics facilities belonging to a postal operator.
Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had targeted Ukrainian defence-industry facilities, logistics centres and vessels used by the Ukrainian military.
Turkey pushes to revive Black Sea grain corridor
08:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarTurkey is stepping up efforts to restore a Black Sea grain corridor that previously enabled Ukrainian agricultural exports to reach international markets despite the war, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
Erdogan discussed the issue with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in New York and said Kyiv had responded positively.
“We have now increased our efforts to re-establish the grain corridor. We are also accelerating our diplomatic steps for this,” he said.
Turkey and the UN previously helped broker the arrangement, and Ankara is now seeking to revive it amid continued disruption to Ukraine’s vital agricultural exports.
Zelensky broke confidentiality with North Korea POWs disclosure, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung says
07:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarSouth Korean president Lee Jae Myung accused Ukraine of breaking a confidentiality agreement by publicly revealing that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been sent to South Korea.
Zelensky announced the transfer during his UN speech, saying Ukraine had handed over the two POWs to South Korea after consultations.
Lee wrote on X: “I do not know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public, but it is very disappointing.
“The issue of bringing North Korean prisoners to South Korea is a highly sensitive one that could have a major impact on diplomacy, security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula,” he said.
His comments came as opposition parties in South Korea questioned Lee for hiding arrival of North Korean troops in South Korea after it was first revealed by Zelensky.
Lee said those who “harm someone's life, national interest, or security for their own petty gain are called murderers or traitors”.
“Criticising valid and justified confidentiality measures is wrong,” he said.
Nato says it is prepared for sabotage and drone incidents
06:55 , Maroosha MuzaffarNato secretary general Mark Rutte has reassured member states that the alliance has plans to respond to drone and sabotage incidents, following a Danish warning that Russia could intensify hybrid operations across Europe.
The concerns were heightened by a fire at a Starlink facility in Poland, which Polish officials said was deliberate, although they have not identified those responsible.
Rutte said Nato was prepared for such threats, as European governments increasingly focus on protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, sabotage and other forms of disruption.
Moscow has denied involvement in sabotage incidents attributed to Russia.
Russia says it struck Ukrainian defence industry facilities, logistics hubs overnight
06:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia’s defence ministry claimed on Friday that its forces carried out overnight drone strikes targeting Ukrainian defence-industry facilities, logistics centres and vessels used by the Ukrainian armed forces.
The ministry said the strikes hit a site in the Kyiv region used to assemble and store drones, as well as logistics hubs in the Odesa region and port infrastructure in Reni.
It also claimed that Russian forces struck a cargo ship carrying military and dual-use goods bound for the port of Odesa.
Ukraine has not verified these claims yet.
A Reuters witness said an explosion was heard near the centre of Kyiv following a Russian drone attack.
Denmark warns of possible Russian attack on Nato
05:55 , Maroosha MuzaffarDenmark’s defence intelligence service has warned that Russia could carry out a limited attack against a Nato member in the coming months, while stressing that the overall risk remains “low” but is “growing”.
Possible scenarios include strikes on infrastructure linked to support for Ukraine or a small-scale incursion by Russian forces.
The warning comes amid growing European concerns over suspected Russian sabotage, cyber operations and other hybrid activity.
Danish intelligence said Moscow could seek to test Nato’s response, although a full-scale Russian invasion of a Nato country remains considered highly unlikely.
The assessment comes as European authorities investigate a series of suspected sabotage incidents, including a fire at a Starlink facility in Poland.
Eight killed in Russian strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv region as civilian sites hit
05:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarAt least eight people were killed in Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine on Thursday, including strikes that damaged a maternity hospital in Kyiv and killed six people at an agricultural facility in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian officials said.
Two people were killed in Kyiv, according to president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The overnight assault reportedly damaged homes and civilian infrastructure in the capital.
Police said nine houses, a post office, warehouses and dozens of vehicles were among the sites affected.
A maternity hospital was also damaged, although reports indicated that patients were not harmed.
Zelensky, who was in New York for the UN General Assembly, said the attacks struck Kyiv while people were sleeping.
The deadliest incident occurred in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, where six people were killed at a farm and 12 others were injured, according to prosecutors.
The attack hit a vegetable storage facility in the village of Stara Hnylytsia in the Chuhuiv district.
Zelensky courts Wall Street as Ukraine seeks investment for reconstruction and winter
04:55 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has held talks with senior American business executives in New York as Kyiv seeks private investment to help rebuild an economy battered by more than four years of war.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and brought together representatives of more than two dozen US companies. It was facilitated by Citigroup and the US Chamber of Commerce.
The discussions come at a difficult moment for Ukraine.
Russian attacks have continued to damage infrastructure and key parts of the economy, while Kyiv faces enormous costs from maintaining its war effort. Ukrainian officials are also looking ahead to another winter in which attacks on energy infrastructure could put additional pressure on households and businesses.
The government said the talks focused on helping Ukraine withstand the coming winter as well as supporting its economy and reconstruction. Private companies could play a role in sectors ranging from infrastructure and energy to finance, technology and industrial production.
Finland asks Musk to expand Starlink coverage for Ukraine
03:55 , Maroosha MuzaffarFinnish president Alexander Stubb said he has asked Elon Musk to extend Starlink coverage into Russian territory, arguing that it could help Ukraine locate Russian ballistic missile launchers.
Starlink has been a key part of Ukraine’s battlefield communications since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and is also used to support drone operations, but its coverage does not extend over Russia.
Ukraine faces a shortage of air defences against ballistic missiles and believes access to Starlink over Russian territory could improve its ability to identify launch sites.
Russia has invited Kim Jong Un to visit the country, the Tass news agency said
03:00 , Alex CroftRussia has extended an official invitation to visit the country to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a deputy foreign minister has said according to the TASS state news agency.
Moscow and Pyongyang have drawn markedly closer in recent years, with North Korea sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine in 2024 and deepening military cooperation under a mutual defence pact.
US and Indian top diplomats discuss Russia sanctions bill signed by Trump
01:29 , Alex CroftUS secretary of state Marco Rubio and Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar discussed on Wednesday US measures that could be leveled against countries that engage economically with Russia and Iran.
Last week, Trump signed the bill called "Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," named after deceased South Carolina Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham.
Rubio and Jaishankar "discussed sanctions that could be leveled against states that engage economically with Russia and Iran," the State Department said in a statement after their meeting in New York.
Jaishankar wrote on X he "reiterated India's interests and concerns with regard to SRIA."
India has previously told Washington that new measures to levy tariffs over the purchase of Russian oil could impact bilateral ties.
Don't weaken sanctions on Russian oligarchs, Zelensky pleads with world leaders - ICYMI
Friday 25 September 2026 00:01 , Alex Croft'Low but growing risk" that Russia would launch a limited military attack against one or several NATO countries, Denmark warns
Thursday 24 September 2026 23:48 , Dan HaygarthRussia is likely to intensify its hybrid war against the West in the coming months, Denmark's defence intelligence service said in a new threat assessment on Thursday.
Hybrid warfare and sabotage on European soil gained renewed attention after Germany recently blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at the Leipzig/Halle Airport, prompting European Union members to call for new sanctions against Russia.
Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement in hybrid warfare, sabotage operations in NATO countries, or plotting any confrontation.
The Russian embassy in Denmark rejected the assessment as unsupported by credible evidence and accused the West, led by Denmark, of driving up tensions over Ukraine.
"Our persistent warnings about the destructiveness of such an approach are being ignored," the embassy said in a written statement.
The defence intelligence service said Russia would carry out more frequent attacks against the West and NATO "with greater consequences for the countries targeted than in the past".
It added that there was "a low but growing risk" that Russia would launch a limited military attack against one or several NATO countries that border it.
"A limited military attack would be a desperate move on Russia’s part and, like the intensified hybrid attacks, could potentially take place in the coming months," it said.
Such attacks could include isolated strikes with long-range weapons like drones or missiles on infrastructure supporting Ukraine, or false-flag operations using Ukrainian-made drones, intelligence service chief Thomas Ahrenkiel said at a press conference.
He said Russia could also deploy a limited number of troops into a NATO border area, potentially under the pretext of protecting Russian minorities.
Finnish leader pleads with Musk to help Ukraine hit Russian missile launchers
Thursday 24 September 2026 23:21 , Dan Haygarth
Alexander Stubb said on Thursday he pleaded with SpaceX owner Elon Musk to expand Starlink satellite internet coverage for Ukraine so it can strike Russian ballistic missile launchers located inside Russian territory.
With winter looming, Ukraine has an acute shortage of air defenses to repel Russian ballistic missiles, and Kyiv officials believe that turning on Starlink over Russian territory would help it target the Russian launchers that fire the missiles.
"That's why ... I plead that Elon Musk would give the Ukrainians the possibility to use Starlink in areas where there are ballistic missile launchers, either in the occupied territory of Ukraine or in Russia for strategic purposes because that would save lives," Stubb said.
The Finnish leader, a staunch ally of Ukraine who also has good relations with US President Donald Trump, made the remark in an interview with Reuters in New York where world leaders have converged for the annual gathering at the United Nations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky used the event to press hard for ceasefires that would cover strikes on targets related to energy infrastructure and vessels in the Black Sea. Russia has given no public indication it wants to see such arrangements.
German minister calls for ceasefire starting around the Black Sea
Thursday 24 September 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftGerman foreign minister Johann Wadephul has called for a full and immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, starting in the Black Sea, to safeguard grain and food supplies.
"Ukraine had a very good grain harvest this year. But because of the Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports, it can't be delivered to the world.
“Russia is thereby exacerbating hunger and starvation worldwide," he said in a statement published on Thursday.
In pictures: Kharkiv farm battered in overnight Russian air attack
Thursday 24 September 2026 22:02 , Alex Croft
Poland suspects Russia behind fire at Starlink satellite station
Thursday 24 September 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftA fire broke out on Wednesday evening at a ground-based Starlink satellite communications station in central Poland providing connectivity for the region, including Ukraine, deputy prime minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said.
He added that the systems were now operational.
Poland has been on heightened alert for acts of sabotage since Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. Russia has repeatedly denied any such action.
"The fire engulfed the power station and the generator; it is clear that this act of sabotage was deliberately designed to disable the station — effectively cutting off the internet connection... and disrupting internet access for various institutions, including the Ukrainian military," he said.
"While everything is operational today, we must recognise —as Prime Minister Tusk recently noted — that this is an element of hybrid warfare."
He added that while it was not established that Russia was responsible for the fire, "many signs suggest this aligns with Russia’s new doctrine of attack".
Zelensky tells world leaders that Putin is ‘patient zero’ for spreading war globally - but Ukraine has a cure
Thursday 24 September 2026 20:01 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky looked tired. His delivery was halting. Like the country he leads he can barely comprehend that he is still talking of war into the fifth year of Ukraine’s defence against Russia.
He has a new message and a new way to deliver it. Vladimir Putin, he told the assembled world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, is “patient zero” spreading the infection of war to Africa, Asia, all over the world.
“Putin is always looking for someone who can help him kill more, kill more people for every kilometre of land, take more territory, attack another country instead of simply stopping and running his own country, the Ukrainian president said.
Zelensky tells world leaders that Putin is ‘patient zero’ - but Ukraine has a cure
Zelensky signs drone deals with Finland, Australia and other countries
Thursday 24 September 2026 19:00 , Jane DaltonUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has signed a "drone deal" with Finland, another in a series of agreements combining Kyiv's technical expertise with other countries' industrial capacity.
"We are always ready to share what has helped us save lives with our closest friends," Mr Zelensky wrote.
When the war began in February 2022, Ukraine had limited experience in drone technology. Kyiv has rapidly developed its expertise and is now able to down drones, many of them designed by Iran.
It has offered its technology to a wide range of countries, many of them in the Middle East, facing Iranian weaponry.
Kyiv has now clinched "drone deals" with 10 countries and has an accord with the European Union.
In his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Zelensky said a security accord had also been concluded with Australia.
He described the drone deals as "ready-made security formats that we adapt to each specific country and each specific region".
"We are already working with partners in the Gulf, the South Caucasus, and across Europe through drone deals."
Developing drones, he said, allowed countries to control borders, mountain areas and roads "and without them, this would simply be impossible".
Croatian court rules Ukrainian man suspected in Nord Stream blasts can be extradited to Germany
Thursday 24 September 2026 18:01 , Aleksandar VasovicA Croatian court has ruled that a Ukrainian man suspected of being involved in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline blasts can be extradited to Germany, Ukraine's Suspilne news portal reported on Thursday.
German prosecutors have said the man — identified as Vladimir Z. — was a scuba diver who was part of a group behind the blasts, which followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier that year.
The explosions — described by Russia and Western countries as sabotage — damaged the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, a vital route for Russian gas exports to Europe, as well as the Nord Stream 2 branch, which had yet to enter service.
Vladimir Z.'s lawyer, Mykola Katerynchuk, dismissed the court ruling, made on Friday last week, as biased and political and said there would be an appeal, according to the Suspilne report.
German courts have treated the case as falling within their jurisdiction because the damaged pipelines terminate in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and their destruction affected Germany's energy security and internal safety.
Vladimir Z. was arrested in August in a hotel in the Croatian coastal city of Pula on a European arrest warrant. He has denied any involvement, his lawyers have said.
With Reuters
Full article: CIA warns Russia is preparing attacks on Spain, France or Italy with drones from the sea: report
Thursday 24 September 2026 17:00 , Alex CroftThe CIA has warned Russia is preparing to carry out drone strikes in Europe targeting France, Spain and Italy from the sea, according to a report.
Several European governments have been passed information about the Kremlin’s supposed plans to escalate its interference on the continent, an unnamed source close to the Lithuanian ministry of defence told Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
Lithuanian authorities believe Russia could use an explosive-laden Gerbera drone, launched from the sea, to cause a fire, damage exposed equipment or temporarily close a port or airport, according to the report.
Such a provocation would follow a string of reported incursions and alleged acts of sabotage across eastern Europe blamed on Russia. Those attacks have until now fallen short of the threshold of direct military engagement.
CIA warns Russia is preparing drone attacks on Spain, France or Italy: report
EU countries sanction former Russia Today exec Xenia Fedorova
Thursday 24 September 2026 16:29 , Alex CroftEU countries have agreed to impose sanctions on Xenia Fedorova, a former senior executive of Russian broadcaster Russia Today's French division.
Fedorova was sanctioned for engaging in foreign information manipulation and interference, the bloc said.
It said Federova had "participated in the implementation and dissemination of RT France's editorial line, including pro-Russian narratives in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine".
Watch: Kyiv downs jet-powered Shaheds with new interceptor drones
Thursday 24 September 2026 16:00 , Alex CroftUS to provide 'critical but limited' capabilities to Nato as Europeans step up, said top commander
Thursday 24 September 2026 15:27 , Alex CroftThe US would continue to provide "critical but more limited capabilities" to Nato as Europeans take up a greater role in defending the continent, the alliance’s top commander has said.
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, made the comments over the phone to Reuters news agency en route to a change of command ceremony at a NATO headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, where a British army general will take over from a US Navy vice admiral.
Ukraine signs drone deal with Finland
Thursday 24 September 2026 14:56 , Alex CroftUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he had signed a “drone deal” with Finnish president Alexander Stubb, as Kyiv seeks to combine its technical expertise with the industrial capacity of other countries.
Zelensky met Mr Stubb and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre in New York.
“And today we just signed a Drone Deal with Alex (Stubb) – an important step for jointly protecting our people and an even stronger partnership between our countries,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Krasnodar governor declares state of emergency over Ukraine drone attacks on grain
Thursday 24 September 2026 14:25 , Alex CroftThe governor of Russia's southern Krasnodar region, a major agricultural producer, has declared a state of emergency over Ukrainian drone attacks that have inhibited the export of grain, a move which allows those affected to receive compensation.
Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on the other side's grain vessels in the Black Sea in recent months, sending global prices higher.
Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev, announcing the state of emergency on Wednesday, said that "massive attacks" on logistics infrastructure had caused the suspension of port operations and disruptions to shipping in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday.
Agricultural producers, he said, were unable to sell much of their yields, leading to an oversupply on the domestic grain market.
Novorossiysk, a major port city in Krasnodar, is a frequent target of Ukrainian drone strikes and a major outlet for Russian oil, oil products and grain exports, among other commodities.
Krasnodar region harvested 11.4 million metric tons of grain and pulses this year, nearly 2 million tons more than in 2025.
The Kremlin said this week that there had been further diplomatic contacts about a proposal by Turkey for the safe passage of grain via the Black Sea, and that Russia was finding alternate routes for its grain exports in the meantime.
Full report: Russian strikes kill 8 in Ukraine as the UN debates how to end the war
Thursday 24 September 2026 13:55 , Alex CroftRussian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine overnight killed at least eight civilians, officials said Thursday, as Moscow’s 4½-year-long invasion of its neighbor grinds on despite renewed appeals for a settlement at this week’s U.N. General Assembly.
A strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region killed six agricultural workers and wounded 12 others, Interior Minister Ihor Vyhivskyi said. An attack on the capital Kyiv killed a man and a woman, he said, while officials in the southern port of Odesa also reported a major bombardment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed in a speech at the United Nations late Wednesday for countries to starve Russia of revenue through sanctions and trade bans, denying Moscow the money it needs to prolong the war. He and other leaders at previous U.N. general assemblies have sought to pressure Moscow into giving up its ambitions in Ukraine.
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Russian strikes kill 8 in Ukraine as the UN debates how to end the war
