Kyiv’s North Bridge has been hit in a Russian air strike on Sunday, the capital’s mayor said on Sunday.
The roadway of the bridge had already been attacked on Saturday, mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
The attacks came amid a visit by German chancellor Friedrich Merz who arrive to the capital in a show of support for president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Moscow vowed harsh retaliation against Ukraine after Zelensky doubled down on attacking refineries but said he would not target civilians in comments to Reuters. His comments came amid a policy of Russian strikes designed to force Ukrainians to abandon Kyiv.
“In response to these threats, the Russian Ministry of Defense reiterates that it is launching massive strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions specifically in response to the actions of the Kyiv regime's leader,” the ministry said.
It said the Ukrainian leader “bears full personal and political responsibility for the new attacks”.
Meanwhile. Russia has implemented new restrictions on the freedom of young men, requiring them to present military enlistment papers before participating in key aspects of public and economic life as its war in Ukraine drags on, a leaked document shared with The Sunday Times revealed.
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
- Kyiv's North Bridge hit by Russian strikes as Russia vows retaliation
- German chancellor arrives in Kyiv
- Putin has issued 'new doctrine' of striking civilian targets in Ukraine, Zelensky says
- Ukraine describes India's proposal for possible ceasefire with Russia as the 'broadest'
- Russia has stockpiled ballistic missiles ahead of winter onslaught, officials warn
- Russia imposes restrictions on freedom of young men – report
Bosnia votes as Kremlin-backed separatist Dodik looms large over general election
01:00 , Suha KidwaiBosnians have now cast ballots in general elections overshadowed by threats from pro-Moscow Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik to dismantle the state.
Despite being legally barred from office, Dodik – who met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow just days before the vote – remains the central figure of the campaign.
Appearing alongside Russia's ambassador at his final rally in Banja Luka, Dodik declared Bosnia "dead" and an "impossible country," signalling continued Kremlin-backed pushback against the nation's EU and NATO ambitions.
Russian alignment remains a flashpoint as Moscow seeks to maintain a strategic foothold in southeastern Europe through the Serb-majority Republika Srpska.
Turnout stood at just 27 percent by mid-afternoon amid voter disillusionment and technical delays, with Western officials watching closely for potential post-election instability.
Russia sharing jet-drone tech with North Korea, says Zelensky
00:00 , Suha KidwaiUkrainian president Zelensky has stated he believes Russia is transferring advanced jet-powered drone technology to North Korea in exchange for artillery, missiles, and troops.
Moscow has sharply escalated its use of high-speed jet drones against Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, leaving Kyiv struggling to counter the weapons without scrambling combat aircraft.
Asked if Moscow was sharing the underlying technology with Pyongyang, Zelensky confirmed that Russia is providing North Korea with military technologies across multiple domains as payback for its extensive wartime support.
The remarks come amid a growing diplomatic dispute between Kyiv and South Korea.
South Korean president Lee Jae-myung threatened retaliatory measures against Ukraine on Friday, demanding an apology after Zelensky publicly revealed that Ukraine transferred two captured North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
Merz pledges €1B aid package during Kyiv visit as Russian strikes hit capital
23:00 , Suha KidwaiGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz unveiled a €1 billion military aid package and €350 million in energy repairs during a surprise visit to Kyiv, as Russian drone strikes rattled the Ukrainian capital on Sunday.
The unannounced visit saw air-raid sirens blare as Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured damaged sites, including the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River.
German defence and energy executives accompanying Merz signed 16 deals worth €6.5 billion, including contracts for IRIS-T air defence missiles, radar systems, and Quantum Systems SPYS jet-powered drone interceptors.
Merz called on Vladimir Putin to end the "senseless war," declaring that Germany "will not be intimidated" and framing Ukraine's defence as vital to European security.
South Korea's Lee accuses Zelensky of making him look like a 'liar'
22:00 , Maira ButtSouth Korean leader Lee has accused Ukraine of making him look like “a liar” by contradicting his earlier claim about a non-disclosure agreement with Kyiv.
Lee said on X that Seoul would take “additional measures” if Ukraine refused to admit the existence of the non-disclosure agreement and apologise publicly.
The diplomatic row between South Korea and Ukraine has emerged after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to reveal a secret deal in which Kyiv would transfer North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
“This is a matter concerning the honour of the Republic of Korea’s people and nation; we cannot overlook it,” Lee said.
How deadlock in the Ukraine war is crippling global food prices
21:30 , Maira ButtGlobal food prices could climb by more than nine per cent this year as a deadly escalation between Russia and Ukraine around the Black Sea threatens vital grain exports, analysts have warned.
Ukrainian exports fell an astonishing 75 per cent year-on-year in the first two weeks of August as Russia stepped up its attacks, striking ports more than 70 times in July and early August and hitting vessels on 62 occasions, according to port authorities.
Kyiv says the attacks threaten $40bn in crucial export revenue, worth 1.5 per cent of GDP, while hundreds of millions of people reliant on Ukrainian grain around the world stand to go without.
How deadlock in the Ukraine war is crippling global food prices
EU warns situation in Russia-occupied Oleshky is 'appalling'
21:00 , Maira ButtThe situation of civilians in the Russia-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky is “appalling”, the European Union has warned.
"What is happening in Oleshky, Ukraine, is appalling. Civilians are trapped under siege by Russian forces without access to food, medicine, clean water and basic care,” EU commissioner Hadja Lahbib said yesterday.
“This is unacceptable...Russia, as occupying power, has clear obligations under international humanitarian law: civilians must be protected, and humanitarian assistance must be facilitated," she said.
Watch: Germany's Merz visits Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities
20:30 , Maira ButtGerman Chancellor pledges support for Ukraine as Russia intensifies strikes on Kyiv
20:00 , Maira ButtGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to demonstrate support as Russia steps up strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Aerial warfare has intensified further, with Moscow targeting cities across Ukraine using difficult-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, while Kyiv has launched strikes against Russian commercial interests and oil infrastructure.
Merz said his trip to Kyiv, his second as chancellor, was intended to underscore Germany’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine.
German Chancellor pledges support for Ukraine as Russia intensifies strikes on Kyiv
Russia warns foreign diplomats in Kyiv of 'mortal danger'
19:30 , Maira ButtThe Russian foreign ministry warned diplomats in Kyiv of “mortal danger” as Moscow’s troops carry out mass strikes across Ukraine and the capital.
Russia warned foreign diplomatic missions against staying in Kyiv or travelling into Ukrainian territory.
The foreign ministry said its armed forces are preparing to escalate aerial bombardment in “massive retaliatory strikes” against Ukraine.
But Kyiv said it has not received any transfer notices or appeals from foreign missions.
It comes as German chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the country’s capital on Sunday.
Watch: Shahed drone strikes Kyiv's Pivnichnyi Bridge as Russia targets civilian infrastructure, says Zelensky
19:00 , Maira ButtZelensky vows Ukraine will strike Russian oil refineries after city bombardments
18:30 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine intends to intensify strikes against Russian oil refineries following a fresh campaign of bombardment by Moscow aimed at driving citizens out of Kyiv and major urban centres, while avoiding non-military targets.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian intelligence gathered documentation revealing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has authorised a "new doctrine" expanding military strikes to encompass a significantly wider selection of non-military sites before winter sets in.
Read the full story below.
Zelensky vows Ukraine will strike Russian oil refineries after city bombardments
Putin has authorised a 'new doctrine' to expand strikes to non-military sites, warns Zelensky
18:00 , Maira ButtAccording to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian intelligence has gathered documentation revealing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has authorised a "new doctrine" expanding military strikes to encompass a significantly wider selection of non-military sites before winter sets in.
"We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure, logistics, and especially to attack in the cities, in the villages, everywhere, roads, schools, hospitals," Zelensky told Reuters in an interview. "To pressure people to leave the capital, leave different cities: this is the goal of the operation."
Over 400 Ukrainian civilian casualties every week in 2026: UN
17:30 , Maira ButtThe UN Human Rights Office has said that an average of over 400 civilians were killed or injured every week in Ukraine in the first eight months of 2026.
This figure is a 55 per cent increase from the same period in 2025, said Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights.
The high commissioner’s office documented 15,280 civilians killed or injured during the first eight months of the year, with Russia’s attacks intensifying in recent months.
"The war in Ukraine is a human rights catastrophe that is growing and intensifying by the week, causing unfathomable pain to civilians, and threatening an even greater disaster across the entire region," Turk said.
What is happening with diesel – and should we be worried?
17:00 , Maira ButtDiesel prices in the UK have reached a record high, according to the RAC, hitting £2 a litre for the first time as the war in the Middle East continues to drive up the cost of oil worldwide.
The price of a litre in the UK has risen 40.5 per cent since late February, when the US first launched strikes against Iran, while prices are also at a record high in the US, where much of the world’s supply is produced and refined.
In response to rising costs, G7 leaders have agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel within four months.
What is happening with diesel – and should we be worried?
Russia says it hit Kyiv bridge, two vessels in Black Sea
16:30 , Maira ButtThe Russian defence ministry has said it hit the Northern bridge over the Dnipro river in Kyiv, targeting a route used to transport troops and military cargo.
The ministry added that it had hit two dry cargo vessels carrying military equipment to the port of Odesa in the northwestern Black Sea.
The strikes have come amid a visit by German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
In an earlier statement, the ministry said that Russian forces had struck a dry cargo vessel east of Odesa overnight, as well as a Nova Poshta logistics centre in Chornomorsk and a data centre in Odesa.
Ukraine, Germany discuss LNG supply to Ukraine
16:00 , Maira ButtUkraine and Germany’s energy ministers have discussed supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) through German infrastructure to Ukraine the Ukrainian energy ministry said on Sunday.
The proposal would also involve European companies working with Ukraine's gas storage facilities.
Ukraine had previously expressed interest in increasing LNG imports and had also offered European companies the option of storing their gas in Ukrainian underground storage facilities.
Watch in full: Zelensky on Putin’s ‘new doctrine’ and Ukraine’s response
15:30 , Maira ButtCamille Chorley reports:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he says fund the war, after a fresh Russian bombardment aimed at driving civilians out of Kyiv and other major cities.
Speaking to Reuters, Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had seen documents showing Vladimir Putin approved a "new doctrine" widening attacks to infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools and hospitals before winter. Kyiv, he stressed, will not mirror Moscow by targeting civilians, "because we are another people."
The Kremlin did not comment, but Russia's Foreign Ministry urged foreigners to leave Kyiv and vowed continued systematic strikes.
How deadlock in the Ukraine war is crippling global food prices
15:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeGlobal food prices could climb by more than nine per cent this year as a deadly escalation between Russia and Ukraine around the Black Sea threatens vital grain exports, analysts have warned.
Ukrainian exports fell an astonishing 75 per cent year-on-year in the first two weeks of August as Russia stepped up its attacks, striking ports more than 70 times in July and early August and hitting vessels on 62 occasions, according to port authorities.
Kyiv says the attacks threaten $40bn in crucial export revenue, worth 1.5 per cent of GDP, while hundreds of millions of people reliant on Ukrainian grain around the world stand to go without.
Watch: Germany's Merz visits Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities
14:30 , Maira ButtZelensky says Putin wants to weaken Ukrainian resistance with air strikes
14:00 , Maira ButtVladimir Putin is trying to weaken Ukrainian resistance with an escalation in air strikes against the capital Kyiv and other cities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
“They strike bridges — do they really think we will not respond? I am simply astonished by this animalistic desire to escalate the situation every day,” Zelensky told a news conference, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz who is visiting the capital this weekend.
“Putin wants to weaken Ukraine's resilience as much as possible,” Zelensky added, saying that Russia was trying to get residents to leave Ukraine's major cities.
U.S. peace envoys are trying to organise a trilateral, technical-level meeting by the end of October, the Ukrainian leader added, saying that Ukraine was open to gathering in the UAE or other countries.
Russia warns foreign diplomats in Kyiv of 'mortal danger'
13:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe Russian foreign ministry warned diplomats in Kyiv of “mortal danger” as Moscow’s troops carry out mass strikes across Ukraine and the capital.
Russia warned foreign diplomatic missions against staying in Kyiv or travelling into Ukrainian territory.
The foreign ministry said its armed forces are preparing to escalate aerial bombardment in “massive retaliatory strikes” against Ukraine.
But Kyiv said it has not received any transfer notices or appeals from foreign missions.
Drone attacks disrupt power near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
12:30 , Vishwam SankaranA series of drone attacks targeted the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP), which supplies electricity to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said yesterday.
It is unclear who carried out the attacks.
The strikes damaged transformers considered vital for maintaining the ZNPP's off-site power supply, the IAEA said.
In pictures: Germany's chancellor Merz arrives in Kyiv amid Russian strikes
12:15 , Maira Butt
Kyiv's North Bridge hit by Russian strikes as Russia vows retaliation
12:00 , Maira ButtKyiv’s North Bridge has been hit in a Russian air strike on Sunday, the capital’s mayor said on Sunday.
The roadway of the bridge had already been attacked on Saturday, mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
The attacks came amid a visit by German chancellor Friedrich Merz who arrive to the capital in a show of support for president Volodymyr Zelensky.
“In response to these threats, the Russian Ministry of Defense reiterates that it is launching massive strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions specifically in response to the actions of the Kyiv regime's leader,” the ministry said.
It said the Ukrainian leader “bears full personal and political responsibility for the new attacks”.
Ukraine will carry out more strikes on Russian oil refineries, Zelensky says
11:30 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine will double down on its air strikes on Russian oil refineries in retaliation for Moscow’s airstrikes on Kyiv, Zelensky said yesterday.
The Ukrainian president said Kyiv obtained documents showing Putin issued a “new doctrine” of military attacks on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.
“We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure, logistics, and especially to attack in the cities, in the villages, everywhere, roads, schools, hospitals,” Zelensky said.
“We have to respond in any way (we can). With their attacks on our energy, we have to respond on their energy. First of all, oil refiners, etc., what gives money to them for this war,” Zelenskyy said, adding that “we will not respond, of course, just like them, on any civilian objects”.
German Chancellor pledges support for Ukraine as Russia intensifies strikes on Kyiv
11:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to demonstrate support as Russia steps up strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Aerial warfare has intensified further, with Moscow targeting cities across Ukraine using difficult-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, while Kyiv has launched strikes against Russian commercial interests and oil infrastructure.
Merz said his trip to Kyiv, his second as chancellor, was intended to underscore Germany’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine.
Russian air strike hits bridge in Ukraine's Kyiv during German Chancellor visit
10:37 , Rituparna ChatterjeeA Russian air strike has hit the North Bridge in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram on Sunday, as the German chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in the city in a show of support for president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Klitschko said the strike hit the roadway of the bridge that had already been attacked on Saturday.
Russian drones crash in Moldova
10:30 , Vishwam SankaranFive russian drones, including loitering munitions, crashed in Moldova yesterday, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said.
The Moldovan foreign ministry said drone debris fell in the Causeni, Hincesti, Anenii Noi, and Stefan Voda districts and near Crocmaz.
Russian drones and drone debris have been violating Moldovan airspace increasingly in recent months, with at least 20 such incidents recorded between February 2022 and July 2026, and seven since August 2026 alone.
Over 400 Ukrainian civilian casualties every week in 2026: UN
09:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe UN Human Rights Office said today that an average of more than 400 civilians were killed or injured every week in Ukraine in the first eight months of 2026.
This figure is a 55 per cent increase from the same period in 2025, said Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights.
The high commissioner’s office documented 15,280 civilians killed or injured during the first eight months of the year, with Russia’s attacks intensifying in recent months.
"The war in Ukraine is a human rights catastrophe that is growing and intensifying by the week, causing unfathomable pain to civilians, and threatening an even greater disaster across the entire region," Turk said.
Russia imposes restrictions on freedom of young men – report
09:17 , Rituparna ChatterjeeRussia has imposed several restrictions on young men in its effort to round up additional troops to send to its war in Ukraine, a leaked document revealed.
A letter shared with the Sunday Times shows that potential conscripts are being forced to present their draft papers before they can take out a mortgage, buy and sell property, or be recorded as a business owner, steps intended to put pressure on draft evaders.
Men aged between 18 and 30 are required by Russian conscription laws to sign up so they can be called up to fight.
The letter, sent from the federal board of notaries to regional notary chambers on 15 September, says “temporary measures may be applied to citizens” to “ensure their appearance at the military commissariat upon a summons”, according to the report.
An investigation by Russian independent outlet Mediazona recently identified the names of 258,989 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine.
More than 10,000 names were added to the database in under two weeks, though the true death toll is expected to be significantly higher.
The total casualty has pushed past 1.5 million since 2022.
Germany's Merz visits Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities
09:02 , Rituparna ChatterjeeGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv Sunday in a show of support as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The aerial war has intensified, with Moscow menacing cities across Ukraine with hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, while Kyiv has been striking Russia’s oil industry and businesses.
“Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I traveled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us,” Merz wrote on X, noting that Germany’s own security “also depends on the outcome of this war”.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Merz would hold talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Writing on X, Sybiha said the agenda would focus on "strengthening Ukraine, our defence and resilience, and our shared European security.”
Ukraine describes India's proposal for possible ceasefire with Russia as the 'broadest'
08:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeUkraine has described India's proposal for a possible ceasefire with Russia as the "broadest" among four offers received by Kyiv, according to reports.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said: “We have four proposals. The broadest one is India’s proposal. We are ready for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire, but only in this combination.”
Sybiha was speaking to reporters in Kyiv, according to European Pravda newspaper.
The other proposals were from Turkey, Egypt and the US.
Russia has stockpiled ballistic missiles ahead of winter onslaught, officials warn
07:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeUkrainian officials warn Russia has stockpiled hundreds of ballistic missiles ahead of an expected winter onslaught against electricity and water infrastructure.
Last winter, the worst of the war, Russian strikes left swathes of the country without electricity and heating for days at a time.
Since the summer, Moscow has also begun launching dozens of fast and relatively cheap jet-powered Shahed drones a day at Ukraine, whose air defence teams have struggled to cope because their interceptor drones were too slow to catch them.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had been forced to rely heavily on its fighter aircraft – F-16s and MiGs – to down around 60 per cent of the Russian jet-powered drones, but supplies of 20mm ammunition for the planes were running low.
Kyiv was urgently working on other solutions – including boosting its electronic jamming capabilities, he said. In the second half of October, it would receive the first shipment of small, cheap air defence missiles capable of hitting the new Shaheds.
Last week, Zelensky said Ukraine was developing five models of new interceptor drones capable of downing the jet Shaheds.
Fresh from a meeting with his defence chiefs, he said tests on two of those models showed a modest success rate of around 30 per cent.
"We'll have to scale it," he said. "I hope that with all these things, with all these elements, we'll find a way."
Zelensky says 'not fair to normalise' ties with Russia before return to peace
06:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeAfter the Trump administration invited Vladimir Putin to attend a G20 summit in Miami in December and discussed business deals with Russian envoys, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged Washington not to normalise relations with Russia before ensuring a return to peace.
Zelensky said he would be happy to meet Putin for peace talks at the G20, but he warned the US not to believe in "illusions" that Russia would simply end hostilities if it gained control of Donbas.
"It's not fair just to normalise," said Zelensky, dressed in his trademark black T-shirt and military-style jacket.
Any resumption of economic and diplomatic ties with the West had to be in return for Russia ending hostilities, he said: "Because peace is more important than any kind of economy."
While the US has proposed a resumption of trilateral talks in the coming weeks in the UAE, Zelensky noted that an exact date and location for the technical-level conversations had still not been set.
German chancellor arrives in Kyiv
05:35 , Vishwam SankaranGermany's chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv today, pledging support for Ukraine.
Merz arrived along with the chiefs of German defence companies, in a show of support for president Volodymyr Zelensky amid escalating Russian attacks.
"I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks," the German chancellor said.
"If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us,” he said, adding that Ukraine can “count on our help”.
Latvia's pro-Ukraine prime minister wins election
05:33 , Vishwam SankaranLatvia’s pro-Ukraine prime minister Andris Kulbergs' United List party has won the country’s parliamentary election held yesterday by a wide margin.
The election was held in the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war, with many voters on edge amid warnings of potential Russian aggression.
Baltic countries have warned for months that Russia is mounting sabotage, cyber and other hybrid attacks across Europe to erode support for Ukraine and sow fear.
But Western officials dismiss concerns that Moscow is capable of launching a direct assault on Nato, of which Latvia is also a member.
Russia has dismissed such accusations as baseless and the result of anti-Russian hysteria.
Ukrainian counteroffensive 'Vivaldi' ongoing in Donbas
05:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive, code-named "Vivaldi", had recaptured around 140sqkm (54sqm) of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region and was still ongoing.
Russia has said it must control Donbas in its entirety as a condition for any peace deal.
In recent weeks, US president Donald Trump's administration has sought to revive talks to end the four-year-old conflict – Europe's bloodiest since Second World War.
The US leader last month urged Ukraine to refrain from hitting Russian oil installations, saying that was sending global diesel prices surging.
But Zelensky, speaking as air raid sirens blared outside the gilded halls of the presidential offices, said he had received no indications from Russia that Putin was interested in peace talks, or discussing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure.
Putin has issued 'new doctrine' of striking civilian targets in Ukraine, Zelensky says
04:20 , Rituparna ChatterjeeUkraine's intelligence services has obtained documents showing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had issued a "new doctrine" of military attacks on a much broader range of civilian targets ahead of this winter, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukraine will double down on attacking Russian oil refineries in response to the new policy of airstrikes designed to force people to abandon Kyiv and other cities, but will not target civilians, Zelensky said.
"We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure, logistics, and especially to attack in the cities, in the villages, everywhere, roads, schools, hospitals," Zelensky told Reuters in an interview.
"To pressure people to leave the capital, leave different cities: this is the goal of the operation."
The Kremlin was not available to comment on Saturday. But in a statement urging foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would continue to systematically hit targets in what it said were retaliatory strikes for Ukrainian attacks on Russia in recent months.
EU warns situation in Russia-occupied Oleshky is 'appalling'
Saturday 3 October 2026 15:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe situation of civilians in the Russia-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky is “appalling”, the European Union has warned.
"What is happening in Oleshky, Ukraine, is appalling. Civilians are trapped under siege by Russian forces without access to food, medicine, clean water and basic care,” EU commissioner Hadja Lahbib said yesterday.
“This is unacceptable...Russia, as occupying power, has clear obligations under international humanitarian law: civilians must be protected, and humanitarian assistance must be facilitated," she said.
Ukraine seeks missiles and ammunitions for its jets
Saturday 3 October 2026 14:30 , Vishwam SankaranPoland, Belgium and Spain have agreed to supply 20mm rounds for cannons on Ukraine's F-16 jet fighters, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Ukraine is anticipating a potential agreement on the supply of "several million" rounds of this ammunition in the near future, Sybiha said, adding that Kyiv also needed at least 300 Patriot interceptor missiles to bring down Russia's ballistic missiles.
The foreign minister said Moscow could be making 120 to 140 ballistic missiles each month, with 600 already in its stocks.
South Korea's Lee accuses Zelensky of making him look like a 'liar'
Saturday 3 October 2026 13:30 , Vishwam SankaranSouth Korean leader Lee has accused Ukraine of making him look like “a liar” by contradicting his earlier claim about a non-disclosure agreement with Kyiv.
Lee said on X that Seoul would take “additional measures” if Ukraine refused to admit the existence of the non-disclosure agreement and apologise publicly.
The diplomatic row between South Korea and Ukraine has emerged after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to reveal a secret deal in which Kyiv would transfer North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
“This is a matter concerning the honour of the Republic of Korea’s people and nation; we cannot overlook it,” Lee said.
Russia hits Liberian-flagged ship in Ukraine's Odesa port, kills one
Saturday 3 October 2026 13:00 , Maira ButtRussia attacked a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in one of Ukraine's Black Sea ports in the Odesa region, killing one person and injuring three, the Ukrainian sea ports administration said on Saturday.
In a statement on the Telegram app it said that 13 other crew members were evacuated to safety.
As the war is in its fifth year, Russia effectively renewed its blockade of the Ukrainian Black Sea ports since the summer, disrupting trade routes, reducing grain and steel exports and dealing a heavy blow to the Ukrainian economy.
Hungary welcomes Ukraine's bill strengthening Hungarian minority rights
Saturday 3 October 2026 12:30 , Vishwam SankaranHungary has welcomed Ukraine’s decision to submit a draft law to parliament seeking to strengthen the education rights of its ethnic Hungarian minority.
"The (Ukrainian) bill strengthens the legal guarantees of education in the Hungarian language and the network of educational institutions," Hungarian prime minister Peter Magyar said in a Facebook post.
The move could help Kyiv get backing for its EU membership from Hungary, which had said that progress on boosting the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine is a prerequisite for Budapest's backing of Ukraine's EU accession.
US-Russia talks on Ukraine involve multi-billion dollar oil deal, NYT reports
Saturday 3 October 2026 12:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe Trump administration’s talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives with ties to US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
The deal, which is contingent on approval from the US government and the Kremlin, involves a sprawling set of oil fields, refineries and gas stations around the world owned by Lukoil, the NYT reported.
In Video: Russia intensifies strikes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure
Saturday 3 October 2026 11:30 , Vishwam SankaranOne killed in drone attack on Russian-controlled part of Zaporizhzhia region
Saturday 3 October 2026 11:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeOne person was killed following a drone attack in Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, the Moscow-installed governor of Russian-controlled parts of the region was cited as saying by the TASS news agency on Saturday.
Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report.
Ten more were injured in the attack.
Second major bridge in Ukraine hit in Russian air attack
Saturday 3 October 2026 10:54 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe Northern Bridge across the Dnipro river in Kyiv was hit during a Russian air attack on Saturday, mayor Vitali Klitschko said, amid an escalation in strikes on infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital.
Emergency services were deployed to the scene, the mayor said, and traffic across the bridge from the east to the west bank was suspended following damage to the road surface and the overhead trolleybus cables.
There were no casualties reported.
In the past two days, the Southern Bridge has been struck several times by Russian drones, forcing the temporary suspension of traffic across it and two other bridges across the vast Dnipro river.
Over a third of the capital's three million residents lived on the east, or "left", bank of the Dnipro before Russia's 2022 invasion, but the vast majority work on the western, or "right", bank where most government institutions and companies are.
Memories of last winter, the worst of the war, are prominent in residents' minds after Russia launched last week what was seen in Ukraine as the first salvo of an expected winter bombing campaign against power facilities supplying the capital.
One killed in Ukrainian attack on Russia's Belgorod region
Saturday 3 October 2026 10:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeOne person was killed and two more suffered injuries in a Ukrainian attack on Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, the TASS state news agency reported on Saturday.
Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report.
Zelensky urges countries to help stop Russian drone production
Saturday 3 October 2026 10:00 , Vishwam SankaranThe Ukrainian president urged countries to strengthen sanctions that can help prevent the production of drones by Russia.
“No matter how hard Moscow tries to fully localise the production of its drones and missiles, its ability to escalate remains critically dependent on foreign components,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
“These are supply chains running from Europe, the US, China, Japan, and many other countries. Most of these companies are well-known manufacturers, but their components still make their way to Russia,” he said, adding that “sanctions must work and must be strengthened”.
“Every Russian drone can actually be stopped right at the production line. What is needed is the political will of these countries,” the Ukrainian president said.
Latvia goes to poll amid Ukraine war and drone incursions
Saturday 3 October 2026 09:30 , Vishwam SankaranLatvians vote today in parliamentary elections in the country amid potential Russian aggression across Europe, including the Baltics, and a growing number of airspace incursions related to Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Russia has denied accusations that it is planning to attack Nato, but security concerns have weighed heavily on the Latvian election campaign.
The election is likely to keep power in the hands of pro-Ukrainian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, according to opinion polls.
"We have to give Ukraine everything necessary right now (so) that they can have the upper hand and win", Kulbergs told Reuters last month.
Russia attacks key bridge in Kyiv for third straight day
Saturday 3 October 2026 09:00 , Vishwam SankaranRussian attacks struck the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River in Kyiv early today, marking the third straight day of strikes targeting the bridge in the capital city.
The bridge's surface and overhead power lines have been damaged in the attack, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Russian drones caused a large explosion on the bridge, which connects the right bank of the city with the left bank.
The full extent of the damage remains unclear.
