There is "a low but growing risk" that Russia would launch a limited military attack against one or several NATO countries that border it, Denmark intelligence has warned
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.
"The aim is not to take over the country, but to divide NATO," he said.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is facing backlash after inviting Russian president Vladimir Putin to a December G20 meeting in Miami, for what would be his second US visit since the war began.
"It's clearly, I think, the wrong path to normalise people who are starting wars, who are going against the UN charter, who are killing and giving orders to kill civilians," said the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, speaking to Sky News.
Read MoreRubio concerned Ukraine war could spread as Russia harries UK and allies
Senior Nato commander warns Putin is becoming more cavalier and open to risk as Ukraine war drags on
How Ukraine’s devastating attacks on Putin’s oil refineries brought the war to Russia’s doorstep
Key Points
- Six killed in Russian attack on farm in Kharkiv region
- CIA warns Russia planning to attack Spain, France or Italy - report
- US invites Putin to attend G20 summit in December
- Nato aircraft deployed over Poland and Romania amid Russian strikes on Ukraine
- Finland asks Musk to expand Starlink coverage for Ukraine
- Russian attacks in Kyiv kill two as Zelensky calls for peace at UN
- Ukraine sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea
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.
Read more here:
Russian strikes kill 8 in Ukraine as the UN debates how to end the war
Iranian and Ukrainian foreign ministers hold meeting on sidelines of UN
Thursday 24 September 2026 13:27 , Alex CroftThe Iranian and Ukrainian foreign ministers held a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
It is the first such meeting since tensions rose in July following a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea.
Russia has invited Kim Jong Un to visit the country, the Tass news agency said
Thursday 24 September 2026 13:00 , 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.
Watch in full: Zelensky warns against use of AI
Thursday 24 September 2026 12:31 , Alex CroftCIA warns Russia planning to attack Spain, France or Italy - report
Thursday 24 September 2026 12:07 , Alex CroftThe CIA has warned European governments of Russian plans to attack Spain, France or Italy using sea drones, according to a report in Spanish outlet El Mundo.
Foreign ministries in the three countries were warned in a report that followed CIA director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow
A source told the newspaper: "They will use drones launched from the sea, concealed in a container on a ship. It is not difficult at all.”
France, Spain and Italy are being targeted because they are holding elections next year, the report said, with Moscow potentially looking to sow political division as right-wing political forces, that are softer in their stance towards Russia, surge.
The attacks would not be designed to cause major damage, but instead to disrupt logistics,such as by shutting down and airport, or to demonstrate weaknesses in Europe’s defences far from the Russian border, says El Mundo.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that European countries assisting Ukraine by providing weapons are legitimate targets of Russian attack.
US and Indian top diplomats discuss Russia sanctions bill signed by Trump
Thursday 24 September 2026 11:49 , 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.
Poland suspects Russia behind fire at Starlink satellite station
Thursday 24 September 2026 10:35 , 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".
Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine sent to South Korea, Zelensky says
Thursday 24 September 2026 10:11 , Alex CroftUkraine has transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia to South Korea, Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” the Ukrainian president said, revealing that the prisoners had left Ukrainian custody.
South Korea stopped short of publicly confirming the transfer.
“It is difficult to confirm whether the individuals have been handled, the timing and route, or the specific details about the consultations between the two countries,” a foreign ministry official said, citing the issue of their safety.
Maroosha Muzaffar writes:
Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine sent to South Korea, Zelensky says
Czech air force says fighter jets were scrambled over Poland
Thursday 24 September 2026 09:45 , Alex CroftCzech air force JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets were scrambled overnight for combat air patrol over Poland, the Czech army said on Thursday.
The army said on X that there was no need to use force during the mission and the jets have returned to their home base.
Six killed in Russian attack on farm in Kharkiv region
Thursday 24 September 2026 09:13 , Alex CroftSix people have been killed in a Russian attack on a farm in Ukraine’s northern Kharkiv region early on Thursday, the region’s governor has said.
Another 12 people were injured in the attack, according to authorities.
"Two men and four women have been killed,” Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv regional military administration, said earlier on Telegram. “We currently know of eight people who have been injured – they are farm workers."
He later revised the injury toll to 12.
Watch: Don't weaken sanctions on Russian oligarchs, Zelensky pleads with world leaders
Thursday 24 September 2026 08:42 , Alex CroftGerman minister called for ceasefire starting around the Black Sea
Thursday 24 September 2026 08:24 , Alex CroftGerman foreign minister Johann Wadephul 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.
Kremlin accuses Andy Burnham of ‘stoking anti-Russian sentiment’ in UN speech
Thursday 24 September 2026 08:00 , Shweta SharmaMoscow has rebuked prime minister Andy Burnham over a UN General Assembly speech in which he accused Russia of spreading falsehoods, arguing that his comments will do nothing to ease tensions across Europe.
Addressing the summit on Tuesday, Burnham announced London would establish a new National Centre for Information Defence, singling out Moscow over what he termed disinformation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterised the approach taken by Burnham and other European nations as fundamentally flawed.
"Well, the British prime minister said nothing new. That is the first point. The second is that stoking anti-Russian sentiment and fostering an atmosphere of total Russophobia is what Britain is doing. And now, presumably in unison with Britain, the Germans, the French and a number of other European states are doing the same thing," said Peskov.
"From our point of view, this is an utterly short-sighted policy. It in no way brings us any closer to any steps that might, in the long term, lead to a reduction in tensions and de-escalation on the European continent."
The prime minister unveiled plans for a new National Centre for Information Defence to tackle Russian information warfare as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Russia has previously been accused of using illicitly acquired documents about UK-US trade talks to try to influence the 2019 contest.
The new unit is initially being led out of the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, with the new centre working alongside intelligence agencies, government departments, the police and social media companies.
He told world leaders that the UK and its allies had been subjected to an “industrial-scale assault” by hostile states, including Russia, to “prey on people’s fear”.
The prime minister said misinformation had worsened in recent years, accusing Vladimir Putin’s agencies of interfering with the 2019 general election and falsifying newspaper articles.
“It is now ten years since Brexit, my country has lived through the destruction, and it has given us a unique perspective that I want to share with you today,” he told the UN.
He added: “In recent years we have seen an industrial-scale assault by hostile actors on the information environment in the UK and many of our allies. Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people's fears.
“I know this is a shared challenge. So we are going to use our experience in the UK – and the fact that we have already been through this shock – to help other countries.”
Kremlin accuses Andy Burnham of ‘stoking anti-Russian sentiment’
