Germany is at “danger of becoming embroiled in a violent conflict with Russia” as Moscow intensifies an increasingly aggressive “shadow war” against European democracies, the head of the country’s foreign intelligence service has warned.
Martin Jaeger, head of Germany’s Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), said the confrontation with Russia had entered a “new, more dangerous dimension”, as he addressed lawmakers at the annual public hearing of Germany’s intelligence chiefs on Monday.
“No other country currently poses such a direct, comprehensive and concrete threat to Germany,” Jaeger said.
“We did not seek this confrontation. Russia is forcing it upon us and sees us as a main adversary, because we refuse to accept its revisionist, expansionist policies and its war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has threatened that Ukraine will “pay the price” after Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would continue striking Russian oil refineries.
It came as German chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a further €1bn in military aid to Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv in a show of support for president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The military package includes long-range strike weapons, combat drones and satellite technology, "so that Ukraine can also target Russian launch pads," Merz said at a news conference.
Read MoreHow deadlock in the Ukraine war is crippling global food prices
German Chancellor pledges support for Ukraine as Russia intensifies strikes on Kyiv
Zelensky vows Ukraine will strike Russian oil refineries after city bombardments
Putin says drills aim to improve commanders’ skills in ‘repelling external aggression’
Key Points
- Germany at risk of violent conflict with Putin, its spy chief warns
- Moscow detains 60 protesters for rare anti-Putin protest
- Germany's Merz announces new aid for Ukraine in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks
- Kyiv's North Bridge hit by Russian strikes as Russia vows retaliation
What will the next leader of the UN need to get the job done in an increasingly complex world?
05:00 , Namita SinghOn 1 January, the next United Nations secretary-general will take over an aging organisation still controlled by World War II powers. What will the world need from that person?
Report:
What will the next leader of the UN need to get the job done in an increasingly complex world?
Ukraine sent 650 drones towards Moscow region overnight, city mayor says
04:04 , Namita SinghUkraine has sent 650 drones towards the Moscow region overnight, Sergei Sobyanin, mayor of the Russian capital city, said on Telegram on Tuesday, adding that 105 drones were downed close to the city.
Watch: Inside mysterious Russian lab where worker died of suspected plague ‘that escaped from broken test tube’
03:00 , Harriette BoucherIndia says it wants to be more involved in ending Ukraine war as Zelensky hails peace plan
02:00 , Harriette BoucherIndia is involved “beyond advocacy” in finding an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, foreign minister S Jaishankar said, after both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky hailed plans proposed by Delhi.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Delhi, Mr Jaishankar said India had held talks with both Moscow and Kyiv in recent months, discussing proposals ranging from protecting Black Sea shipping to halting attacks on energy infrastructure.
India has maintained a neutral stance on the war. It has called for a halt to fighting but has seemed reluctant to directly criticise Russia because of close defence and bilateral ties.
Prime minister Narendra Modi urged Mr Putin to end the war as recently as August, when they met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan.
Mr Jaishankar said India was now engaged in conversations with Russia as well as Ukraine about practical steps towards reducing hostilities.
Read more:
India says it wants to be more involved in ending Ukraine war as Zelensky hails plan
Watch: Moment Russian drone hits bridge in Ukraine's Kyiv
01:00 , Harriette BoucherICYMI: Captain dead after Turkish-owned civilian ship targeted by Russia, says Zelensky
Tuesday 6 October 2026 00:00 , Harriette BoucherA civilian ship carrying corn across the Black Sea was the target of a deadly Russian drone attack, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
We reported earlier that two people died after a fire broke out on a sinking vessel outside Romania’s territorial waters on Monday.
Another 11 crew members were rescued.
The Ukrainian president said the vessel was owned by Turkey and Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board.
“As of now, unfortunately, we know that the ship’s captain was killed,” he said.
President Zelensky described the attack as “a horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel” in neutral waters.
“Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea.
“There have also been relevant proposals from third countries. But Russia consistently chooses terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation.
“Pressure is needed to restore global food security. And everyone who is genuinely interested in this must help.”
Zelensky hails €8.5bn in defence deals with Germany
Monday 5 October 2026 23:00 , Harriette BoucherVolodymyr Zelensky has hailed 15 “important agreements” with Germany that are worth more than €8.5bn and “will strengthen both countries”.
The Ukrainian president said the deals mostly covered security cooperation, weapons production and procurement, as well as a deal to expand their joint counter-drone efforts.
“We will work to the fullest extent to strengthen air defence and increase production in Germany of Patriot missiles,” he wrote on X.
“During this war, Germany has been helping us. And now Ukraine is placing defence and other orders that will provide business for companies in Germany. This will be a significant contribution.”
Ukraine claims its attacks have taken out more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity
Monday 5 October 2026 22:00 , Harriette BoucherUkraine said that its long-range strikes have neutralised more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity, hampering Moscow's ability to supply its forces during its 4 1/2-year-old invasion.
The defence ministry said Sunday that recent strikes on refineries in cities including Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov and Syzran had put 51% of Russia’s oil refining capacity out of action. The claim could not be independently verified.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified their aerial assaults as progress along the 1,200-kilometer (750-mile) front line has largely ground to a halt.
Read more:
Ukraine claims its attacks have taken out more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity
Expert analysis: Russia’s hybrid war against Europe and escalating strikes on Ukraine
Monday 5 October 2026 21:00 , Harriette BoucherDeath toll rises to five in Kharkiv
Monday 5 October 2026 20:00 , Harriette BoucherAt least five people have now died after Russian bombs struck a residential area of Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv earlier on Monday.
Some 53 people, including three children were injured in the attack, officials said.
Earlier, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said: “The enemy attacked Kharkiv with at least three guided aerial bombs; impacts were recorded in the Slobidskyi district. We are currently establishing the details.
“As a result of the strikes… warehouse buildings are on fire, and residential buildings have been damaged. There may be people under the rubble of a residential building that was hit in the attack. A search and rescue operation is underway.”
A separate Russian air strike on Kharkiv on Sunday killed one person and injured another six.
Estonia moves troops closer to Russia as it prepares for possible aggression
Monday 5 October 2026 20:00 , Harriette BoucherEstonia is shifting its troops closer to its border with Russia and obtaining weapons that could be used to strike deep inside to better place it for an attack.
The Nato country is understood to be preparing for a possible future conflict amid fears of potential Russian aggression beyond Ukraine.
In comments reported by the Financial Times, Colonel Tarmo Kundla, the commander of the Estonian First Brigade, said: “We have to start from the border and win from the first battles.”
The country’s main fighting force will relocate from Tapa to Jõhvi, just 50km from the Russian border, he said.
Automated gun turrets down Russian jet-powered drone
Monday 5 October 2026 19:00 , Harriette BoucherAn AI-assisted automated machine gun turret has shot down a Russian jet-powered drone for the first time, a Ukrainian official has said.
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that 12 turrets had been installed in areas heavily targeted in Russian drone attacks.
“There are already cases of shooting down even jet UAVs, even 'Geran-5' from the those very turrets,” Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said.
“The use of innovative technologies — artificial intelligence — has eliminated human error.
“Machine vision is used in the shooting down. Artificial intelligence allows you to target even jet-powered drones.”
Captain dead after Turkish-owned civilian ship targeted by Russia - Zelensky
Monday 5 October 2026 18:00 , Harriette BoucherA civilian ship carrying corn across the Black Sea was the target of a deadly Russian drone attack, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
We reported earlier that two people died after a fire broke out on a sinking vessel outside Romania’s territorial waters on Monday.
Another 11 crew members were rescued.
The Ukrainian president said the vessel was owned by Turkey and Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board.
“As of now, unfortunately, we know that the ship’s captain was killed,” he said.
President Zelensky described the attack as “a horrific strike by two Russian drones on a civilian vessel” in neutral waters.
“Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea.
“There have also been relevant proposals from third countries. But Russia consistently chooses terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation.
“Pressure is needed to restore global food security. And everyone who is genuinely interested in this must help.”
Children among dozens injured as Russian glide bombs kill three
Monday 5 October 2026 17:30 , Harriette BoucherAt least three people have been killed after Russian glide bombs struck Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, on Monday.
Another 39 people, including children, were injured in the attack, local media has reported.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov said: “The enemy attacked Kharkiv with at least three guided aerial bombs; impacts were recorded in the Slobidskyi district. We are currently establishing the details.
“As a result of the strikes… warehouse buildings are on fire, and residential buildings have been damaged. There may be people under the rubble of a residential building that was hit in the attack. A search and rescue operation is underway.”
A separate Russian air strike on Kharkiv on Sunday killed one person and injured another six.
Ukraine claims its attacks have taken out more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity
Monday 5 October 2026 17:13 , Harriette BoucherUkraine said that its long-range strikes have neutralised more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity, hampering Moscow's ability to supply its forces during its 4 1/2-year-old invasion.
The defence ministry said Sunday that recent strikes on refineries in cities including Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov and Syzran had put 51% of Russia’s oil refining capacity out of action. The claim could not be independently verified.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified their aerial assaults as progress along the 1,200-kilometer (750-mile) front line has largely ground to a halt.
Read more:
Ukraine claims its attacks have taken out more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity
Three Russian officials linked to Ukrainian missile strikes killed in training mission plane crash
Monday 5 October 2026 16:52 , Harriette BoucherThree Russian officers linked to missile strikes on Ukraine were among eight crew members killed when a Tu-95MS strategic bomber crashed in Russia’s Amur Region during a training mission last month.
Russian media identified the crew members who died on 29 September, revealing that three of them had been listed by Ukraine’s “Book of Executioners of the Ukrainian People” project as participants in or organisers of Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian territory.
According to local media, the three officers were Andrei Lobanov, Andrei Gerasimov, and Fyodor Pavlyukov.
The Russian nuclear-capable strategic bomber crashed during a training flight in the country's far east, according to its defence ministry.
Officials said at the time that the bomber was unarmed and a team of military investigators has flown to the site to determine what caused the incident.
India says it wants to be more involved in ending Ukraine war as Zelensky hails peace plan
Monday 5 October 2026 16:00 , Shweta SharmaIndia is involved “beyond advocacy” in finding an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, foreign minister S Jaishankar said, after both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky hailed plans proposed by Delhi.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Delhi, Mr Jaishankar said India had held talks with both Moscow and Kyiv in recent months, discussing proposals ranging from protecting Black Sea shipping to halting attacks on energy infrastructure.
India has maintained a neutral stance on the war. It has called for a halt to fighting but has seemed reluctant to directly criticise Russia because of close defence and bilateral ties.
India says it wants to be more involved in ending Ukraine war as Zelensky hails plan
Two dead and 11 rescued after fire breaks out on sinking ship in Black Sea
Monday 5 October 2026 15:30 , Daniel KeaneTwo people have died after a fire broke out on a sinking vessel outside Romania's territorial waters, authorities said on Monday.
Rescue operations were launched following the serious maritime incident in the Black Sea, with Romania’s interior ministry confirming that 11 crew members of the ship had been brought to safety.
According to the country’s Naval Authority, the blaze occurred on board the ship Royad Mammadov.
Russian air strikes targeted port infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region, governor says
Monday 5 October 2026 15:00 , Daniel KeaneMassive Russian air strikes targeted industrial and port infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region, Governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app on Monday.
All of the fires caused have been extinguished so far, he added.
A Russian air strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, killed one person and injured six others, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram late on Sunday.
The Russian defence ministry said on Telegram it hit Vylkove port, fuel depot facilities in Chornomorsk and cargo vessels, all in the Odesa region, as well as a power station in the Kharkiv region, which it said were used for military purposes.
The devastating effect we’re all feeling from the deadlock in Ukraine’s war with Russia
Monday 5 October 2026 14:30 , James C. ReynoldsTwo of the world’s largest exporters of grain, locked in war for more than four years, have seen exports plunge even further over the last year.
Prolonged conflict around the Black Sea threatens both economies - and those most in need, writes James C. Reynolds.
Read our full story below.
The crippling effect we’re all feeling from the deadlock in Ukraine’s war with Russia
Estonia moves troops closer to border with Russia
Monday 5 October 2026 14:00 , Daniel KeaneEstonia is permanently relocating its troops closer to its border with Russia, according to a report, amid growing fears of a possible attack.
Officials told the Financial Times that Moscow is preparing for a potential conflict with the Baltic country - despite not wanting a wider war with Nato.
Colonel Tarmo Kundla, commander of the Estonian First Brigade, the country’s main fighting force, told the newspaper: “We have to start from the border and win from the first battles.”
Last week, the Atlantic reported that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are intensifying preparations for a potential Russian attack.
Watch: Moment Russian drone hits bridge in Kyiv
Monday 5 October 2026 13:30 , Daniel KeaneZelensky says Ukraine responded 'positively to negotiations'
Monday 5 October 2026 13:00 , Shweta SharmaUkraine has responded positively to a US proposal to hold trilateral talks with Russia at a technical level by the end of October, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Kyiv said the American negotiating team was currently in contact with both Ukraine and Russia over the proposed meeting.
“I spoke with the American negotiating team. Today, the American side is in contact with both Ukraine and Russia and is proposing a trilateral meeting at the technical level by the end of October,” Zelensky said.
“Yesterday, I confirmed to them that our side is ready to support holding such a meeting by the end of October. There is no new information here.”
Zelensky also signalled flexibility over where the talks could take place, saying it would be open to the United Arab Emirates or another country proposed by Washington.
“I know they will propose this to the Russian side as well, or may have already done so. We will wait for the response,” he said.
“We respond positively to negotiations.”
