Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had recorded some success as it tests a new weapon to intercept Russian drones.
Ukraine’s military said its forces had downed 187 airborne targets overnight, with Ukraine’s president reporting 93 per cent of all Russian drones had been intercepted.
"That is significant. But, of course, more is needed," he said. "Another development is undergoing testing.
“It's a Ukrainian development and it scored a hit, the 'shahed' was destroyed," Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to the Iranian-designed drones that Ukraine's military has faced.
"But some technical things still need to be refined. We need a bit more time. The work of other developers is continuing."
It comes as Vladimir Putin’s war continues to spread past Ukraine’s borders, with Denmark accusing Russia of firing flares “within metres” of a military helicopter.
Defence minister Jeppe Bruus said no warning or radio contact was made before the warship fired the flares.
Moscow accused Danish military helicopters of making “dangerous” manoeuvres near its warships in the Baltic Sea and handed an official note to Copenhagen on the incident, Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, is reported to have said, according to RIA.
Read MoreRussia will celebrate almost killing Boris Johnson – this is Putin’s plan for chaos
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Key Points
- Zelensky says new anti-drone weapon being tested
- Russian strike sets fire to Kyiv warehouse
- FBI ends Russian plot to kill US individuals and target Ukraine supporters
- Russia claims it warned foreign diplomats away from Kyiv
- Poland ramps up protection of Ukrainian borders
What Putin’s war in Ukraine means for Russian elections this week
18:45 , Maira ButtRussia is holding its first parliamentary elections this week since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
They come amid plummeting approval ratings for Vladimir Putin, mounting casualties on the frontline and minimal territorial gains in the grinding war.
The country’s electoral system is tightly controlled and Putin’s United Russia party is expected to retain its majority in the State Duma, which comprises 450 members. It currently has 310 seats and needs to win at least 300 in order to retain its supermajority.
What Putin’s war in Ukraine means for Russian elections this week
Drone shot down over Nato member Lithuania appears Russian, say sources
18:15 , Maira ButtA drone shot down by an Italian Nato fighter jet in Lithuanian airspace yesterday “most probably” came from Russia, according to Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto.
Authorities in Lithuania, a Nato and European Union member, said on Tuesday they were still investigating the origin of the debris.
A Ukrainian military source said the debris in the images appeared to be from a Geran-2, a long-range attack drone widely used by Russia.
If confirmed, it would be the first known instance of a Russian military drone entering Lithuania since last summer, when two Russian drones accidentally crashed in the country.
The drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, a Russian ally.
Lithuania’s president said on Wednesday that the drone was likely aimed at Ukraine and “not a conscious action against Lithuania” and “deviated off course”.
Belarus frees 25 prisoners in exchange for US lifting some sanctions
17:45 , Maira ButtBelarusian authorities have agreed to release 25 prisoners following a deal that sees the United States remove sanctions against two Belarusian firms, according to Washington’s special envoy.
John Coale, President Donald Trump's special envoy for Belarus, announced the agreement on Wednesday after conferring in Minsk with the country's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has pressed for all remaining American sanctions to be lifted.
Belarus frees 25 prisoners in exchange for US lifting some sanctions
Kim Jong Un says he will continue to back Putin’s ‘sacred war’ on Ukraine
17:15 , Maira ButtNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to “expand and deepen” his cooperation with Russia and support for what he called Vladimir Putin’s “sacred war”, presumed to be a reference to the invasion of Ukraine.
The North Korean leader was replying to a congratulatory message sent by the Russian president on the hermit kingdom’s 78th founding anniversary.
North Korea remains the only third party to involve its ground troops directly in the Russia-Ukraine war, sending thousands of soldiers who were largely deployed to help Putin push back a Ukrainian counter-offensive in Russia’s Kursk region.
Kim Jong Un says he will continue to back Putin’s ‘sacred war’ on Ukraine
In pictures: Aftermath of Russian drone attack in Kramatorsk
16:45 , Maira Butt
Sam Kiley: Kremlin will celebrate Russia’s attack close to Boris Johnson’s train
16:15 , Maira ButtEuropean Union opens door for Canada to become its first associate member
15:45 , Maira ButtThe European Union will open the door for Canada to become its first "associate member", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday as Ottawa seeks out closer ties with Europe amid a deepening spat with Washington.
"Partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe. But they also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system," Ms von der Leyen said in her annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
"We see the world with the same eyes: from AI to climate change, from the Arctic to geopolitics. And we have stood together: on Ukraine, on defence, on raw materials and on supply chains. But above all...Europe and Canada believe in democracy."
EU opens door for Canada to become its first associate member
Ukrainian drone commander says his forces killed decorated Russian general
15:08 , Maira ButtUkrainian drone forces killed a Russian general in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, a little over two weeks after he received a Hero of Russia award for his wartime service, Ukrainian drone commander Robert Brovdi said.
Major General Anton Grunis had won praise from President Vladimir Putin earlier this year after helping capture Kostiantynivka, territory disputed by Kyiv and independent military analysts.
Brovdi, who commands Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said Grunis had been killed in a nighttime strike in the Donetsk region.
"General Grunis was eliminated on September 12," Brovdi wrote in a Telegram post on Wednesday, adding that the general was the seventh Russian The Independent could not independently verify Brovdi's assertions.
Russian commander Apti Alaudinov, in a post on the Telegram messaging app, said Grunis had died, without giving further details.
Ukraine tests new anti-drone weapon during latest barrage of Russian attacks
14:46 , Maira ButtVolodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine successfully tested a new domestically developed weapon to intercept Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
Ukrainian forces downed 187 airborne targets overnight, with Ukraine's president reporting a 93 per cent interception rate for Russian drones.
Zelensky stated that the new weapon destroyed a target, but noted that further technical refinements are required before full deployment.
Tensions widened as Denmark accused a Russian warship of firing flares within metres of a Danish military helicopter without prior warning.
Russia rejected the accusations, claiming Danish military helicopters conducted dangerous manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea and issuing a formal note to Copenhagen.
Drone shot down in Lithuania was likely aimed at Ukraine, Lithuanian president says
14:08 , Maira ButtA drone shot down in Lithuania by an Italian Nato fighter jet on Tuesday was of a type used by Russia and was most likely targeted at Ukraine, Lithuania's president said on Wednesday.
"It was a Gerbera drone," Gitanas Nauseda told reporters on Wednesday, referring to a cheap plywood long-range aerial drone used by Russia. Gerbera drones are often used as decoys but can also carry explosives.
"It was most likely not a conscious action against Lithuania. It [the drone] was probably targeted towards Ukraine but affected by Ukrainian electronic warfare and deviated off course," he added.
US House takes up Russia sanctions bill backed by late senator Graham
13:30 , Maira ButtThe US House of Representatives is due to vote on Wednesday on a sweeping sanctions bill intended to increase economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, nearly one and a half years after the late Senator Lindsey Graham first introduced it.
The bill, now called the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" to honour the late South Carolina Republican, passed the Senate last month. House passage would send it to the White House, where President Donald Trump plans to sign it into law.
The legislation would target Russia's energy and defence industries, as well as its "shadow fleet" of tankers that evade existing sanctions.
It also would authorise Trump to impose stiff tariffs on China, India and other countries to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and gas, as well as additional sanctions on Iran
Drone shot down over Nato member Lithuania appears Russian, say sources
13:00 , Maira ButtAn Italian fighter jet deployed on a Nato mission shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace yesterday that "most probably" came from Russia, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said.
Authorities in Lithuania, a Nato and European Union member, said on Tuesday they were still investigating the origin of the debris.
A Ukrainian military source said the debris in the images appeared to be from a Geran-2, a long-range attack drone widely used by Russia.
If confirmed, it would be the first known instance of a Russian military drone entering Lithuania since last summer, when two Russian drones accidentally crashed in the country.
The drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, a Russian ally.
Woman killed in Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Bryansk region, says governor
12:33 , Maira ButtA woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, the region's acting governor, Yegor Kovalchuk said in a statement on Russia's MAX messenger app on Wednesday.
Watch: Canada seeks 'unique alliance' with EU amid trade tensions with US
12:30 , Maira ButtWhat Putin’s war in Ukraine means for Russian elections this week
12:00 , Maira ButtRussia is holding its first parliamentary elections this week since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
They come amid plummeting approval ratings for Vladimir Putin, mounting casualties on the frontline and minimal territorial gains in the grinding war.
The country’s electoral system is tightly controlled and Putin’s United Russia party is expected to retain its majority in the State Duma, which comprises 450 members. It currently has 310 seats and needs to win at least 300 in order to retain its supermajority.
What Putin’s war in Ukraine means for Russian elections this week
European Union opens door for Canada to become its first associate member
11:30 , Maira ButtThe European Union is opening the door for Canada to become its first "associate member", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.
"Partnerships are a strategic choice for Europe. But they also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system," von der Leyen said in her annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
"We see the world with the same eyes: from AI to climate change, from the Arctic to geopolitics. And we have stood together: on Ukraine, on defence, on raw materials and on supply chains. But above all...Europe and Canada believe in democracy."
EU opens door for Canada to become its first associate member
Analysis: Russia will celebrate almost killing Boris Johnson – this is Putin’s plan for chaos
11:00 , Maira ButtIf blowing up a petrol station and railway carriage close to a train carrying two former European prime ministers and the man who used to run America's war in Afghanistan, the CIA – and rewrote US military doctrine – was an accident, it isn’t one the Russians are admitting to in the Kremlin.
Boris Johnson, Carl Bilt – once Sweden’s PM – and general David Petraeus, the “warrior priest” of America’s War on Terror, are tiptop scalps for Vladimir Putin’s collection and his external spy agency, the FSB, will get kudos for nearly taking them.
Johnson, especially, is a national hero in Ukraine. His record in Britain, where he enhanced Russia’s strategic standing by helping take the UK out of Europe, doesn’t worry frontline soldiers in a country that is grateful for his stentorian support from the early days of the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion.
Russia will celebrate almost killing Boris Johnson – this is Putin’s plan for chaos
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine will support energy ceasefire as 'first step' to end war
10:30 , Maira ButtBritish national charged with assisting Russian intelligence services
10:00 , Maira ButtA man has been charged with assisting Russian intelligence services, the Metropolitan Police said.
Joshua Cammidge, 31, has been charged with National Security Act offences as part of an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London.
The offences relate to alleged contact with a representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps, a group controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency, police added.
Cammidge was arrested by CTP London officers, supported by officers from Wiltshire Police, at an address in Swindon on Friday, September 4.
British national charged with assisting Russian intelligence services
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian drone strike in Kyiv
09:30 , Maira Butt
EU's von der leyen backs European Security Council and new 'playbook' against hybrid attacks
09:00 , Maira ButtEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed creating a European Security Council that could bring together the EU and partners including Canada, Britain and Norway in order to establish an “emergency security protocol”.
“Europe needs its own counter-hybrid playbook,” von der Leyen said in a State of the Union speech at the European Parliament, referring to so-called hybrid attacks such as sabotage attempts.
“When triggered by one Member State, all member states would convene to coordinate a European response, to deter further escalation and to mitigate the impact.”
We are dealing with 'openly hostile world', says EU's von der Leyen
08:30 , Maira ButtEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said that the EU is currently operating in an “openly hostile world”.
"A territorial war of aggression is raging on our continent; others have erupted nearby. A fight for industrial capacities is shaping global competition. And a battle of narratives is seeking to weaken confidence in Europe," von der Leyen said in her State of the Union address in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
“The fate of Europe must remain in the hands of the Europeans,” she said.
“In the cold fragility of today’s world, only Europe can provide true sovereignty to Europeans.”
Russian drone attack on bus in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region kills five, governor says
08:00 , Maira ButtA Russian drone attack on a bus in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region killed five people and wounded at least seven more, the regional governor said on Wednesday.
Polish airports in Lublin and Rzeszow resume flights
07:30 , Maira ButtPolish airports in Lublin and Rzeszow have resumed air operations after temporary closure due to operations of military aviation, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) said on X.
Kyiv drones force half of Russia's top diesel-producing refineries to slash output – report
07:09 , Arpan RaiHalf of Russia's six top diesel-producing refineries were forced to significantly cut back or completely halt output in September due to damage sustained in drone attacks, calculations based on data from fuel market participants showed.
A Russian refinery was successfully hit on average every three days in the first eight months this year, according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
According to the market-sourced data, six plants — the Omsk refinery, Kirishi, Taneco, Volgograd refinery, NORSI and Perm — account for about half of Russia's diesel production.
Kirishi has been fully shut down, while the Volgograd refinery and NORSI are operating at about one-quarter of their nameplate capacity, according to sources.
Diesel production at those plants is several times lower than normal levels. Taneco was attacked by drones on Sunday, but sources said it was not yet possible to assess the consequences of the attack.
Drone shot down over Nato member Lithuania appears Russian, say sources
06:26 , Arpan RaiAn Italian fighter jet deployed on a Nato mission shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace yesterday that "most probably" came from Russia, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said.
Authorities in Lithuania, a Nato and European Union member, said on Tuesday they were still investigating the origin of the debris.
A Ukrainian military source said the debris in the images appeared to be from a Geran-2, a long-range attack drone widely used by Russia.
If confirmed, it would be the first known instance of a Russian military drone entering Lithuania since last summer, when two Russian drones accidentally crashed in the country.
The drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, a Russian ally.
Polish military activates aircraft as two major airports suspend flights
06:20 , Arpan RaiPolish airports in Lublin and Rzeszów suspended flight operations due to the activation of military aircraft, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) said on X this morning.
The Polish Air Force is conducting preventive operations related to Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, the Polish army said in a post.
Zelensky says Russian drones attacked Moldova twice while he was in transit
06:05 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has confirmed Russian drones attacked Moldovan airspace twice while he was in the country aboard his aircraft.
Zelensky told the US television network CBS that he was in Moldova on Ukraine's western border, at Chisinau airport, on his way to and from a trip abroad when the incidents occurred.
"In Moldova, my presidential jet was there and that's why they attacked Moldova, the airspace of Moldova. Maybe they didn't want to attack me personally...," Zelensky said.
“When we came back home, again through Chisinau, again they did the same.”
Last week, a Moldovan government spokesperson said the departure of Zelensky's aircraft for Norway was delayed as Moldovan authorities closed the country's airspace over a drone alert.
Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace on that day. One landed in a field north of the capital, triggering a fire, while the second carried on into Romanian airspace.
Zelensky had not previously spoken of the second incident. It was not clear exactly when the president was again in transit in Moldova on his way back to Ukraine from Canada.
Watch: Zelensky says new anti-drone weapon being tested
05:35 , Arpan RaiRussian strike sets fire to Kyiv warehouse
05:19 , Arpan RaiA Russian strike caused a fire at a warehouse in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the early hours of this morning, city authorities said.
Ukraine’s air force has issued dozens of alerts since midnight warning of the threat from jet-powered Russian drones, guided aerial bombs and missiles across the country on its Telegram channel.
Zelensky says new anti-drone weapon being tested
04:42 , Arpan RaiUkraine has carried out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"Another development is undergoing testing. It's a Ukrainian development and it scored a hit, the 'shahed' was destroyed," Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to the Iranian-designed drones that Ukraine's military has faced.
"But some technical things still need to be refined. We need a bit more time. The work of other developers is continuing."
Ukraine's military said on Facebook that its forces had downed 187 airborne targets overnight.
In his remarks, Zelenskiy said 93 per cent of all Russian drones had been intercepted overnight. "That is significant. But, of course, more is needed," he said.
FBI ends Russian plot to kill US individuals and target Ukraine supporters
04:17 , Arpan RaiRussia’s intelligence services are plotting to carry out targeted killings and acts of terrorism in the US and European nations that support Ukraine, federal authorities said as they announced charges against five people who remain at large.
An indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court said a network of the intelligence services has paid and attempted to pay individuals in the United States and in other countries to surveil targets to be killed, with plans to then kill them.
The associates recruited in the network also have been solicited to carry out acts of terrorism against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries that are perceived to be aligned with Ukraine, the indictment said.
The FBI disrupted the plans “through relentless work” as members of the Russian Intelligence Services and their affiliates "conspired to intimidate, threaten, or murder people on US soil and around the world,” said James C Barnacle, Jr, head of New York's FBI office.
Hockey champion Ovechkin 'was asked by his country' to appear in political ad, Capitals say
03:56 , Arpan RaiRussian hockey champion Alexander Ovechkin was asked to participate in a video campaign for the United Russia political party, which is backed by Russian president Vladimir Putin, while in his native country this summer, the Washington Capitals said on Tuesday.
The National Hockey League's all-time leading goal scorer can be seen standing behind Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in a political campaign ad for the ruling United Russia party.
The appearance has drawn criticism, with Ovechkin facing scrutiny over his longstanding ties to Putin as Russia wages war in Ukraine.
"Alex Ovechkin is a Russian citizen who lives in Moscow with his family during the offseason and will live there following his retirement. This summer, while in Russia, he was asked by his country to participate in a video campaign," Capitals spokesperson Sergey Kocharov said in a statement to Reuters.
“As the longest-tenured athlete in Washington, DC and a pillar of the community, his focus and ours is on the season ahead and the continued impact he makes on the ice and in our city.”
Russia claims it warned foreign diplomats away from Kyiv
03:00 , Jane DaltonRussia’s foreign ministry claims western politicians ignored warnings not to visit Ukraine.
Western politicians and diplomats should “soberly” evaluate existing risks to visit Ukraine, the ministry said as it claimed that Russia warned foreign diplomats in May to leave Kyiv due to Moscow’s strikes on the country.
Boris Johnson was on board a train near the Polish border on Sunday as he returned from a security conference in Kyiv when a Russian drone targeted a stationary passenger train directly behind his.
A Kremlin spokesperson did not deny that Russia was responsible for the attack, saying its forces would continue to operate across Ukrainian territory.
Poland ramps up protection of Ukrainian borders
02:00 , Jane DaltonPoland is reinforcing its border crossings with Ukraine, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz says, after Russian drone attacks just miles from the Nato member's guard posts at the frontier over the weekend.
A Russian drone hit a passenger train on Ukraine's border with Poland on Sunday while another hit a truck at a nearby petrol station.
Border guards later said they had had to suspend crossings, evacuate vehicles and seek shelter.
"Recent days show that Russia's actions threaten the security of all of Europe. In accordance with our government's decision, the infrastructure used by the Border Guard is being strengthened," Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote.
"Soldiers of the 18th Engineer Regiment are already carrying out tasks, thanks to which the checkpoints and infrastructure near the Polish-Ukrainian border will be reinforced."
UN could move aid supplied underground as Russia ramps up strikes
01:00 , Jane DaltonThe UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine says his organisation is considering moving aid supplies underground to dodge Russian strikes, which have hit 10 of its warehouses this year, destroying millions of pounds’ worth of supplies.
One of the World Health Organisation’s main warehouses containing medical supplies was hit earlier this month, and other strikes have destroyed hygiene kits and children's school supplies, said UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale.
"These deliberate attacks on warehousing capacities (...) is a new trend of the last few months," he said.
He said the UN was considering moving supplies into underground bunkers and were delaying purchases of aid supplies until the last minute to reduce exposure to strikes.
"This feels increasingly like the front line is moving into the air," he said.
"That means extra cost also to the taxpayers, who at the end of the day pay for the goods that the UN and other humanitarians bring in," he said.
In pictures: A personal account of daily life in Kyiv
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:59 , Jane Dalton
A personal account of daily life in Kyiv amid intensified Russian attacks, in photos
Zelensky says new anti-drone weapon being tested
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:27 , Bryony GoochPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine was carrying out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight.
"Another development is undergoing testing. It's a Ukrainian development and it scored a hit, the 'shahed' was destroyed," Zelensky said in his nightly video address, referring to the Iranian-designed drones that Ukraine's military has faced.
"But some technical things still need to be refined. We need a bit more time. The work of other developers is continuing."
Ukraine's military said on Facebook that its forces had downed 187 airborne targets overnight.
In his remarks, Zelensky said 93 per cent of all Russian drones had been intercepted overnight.
"That is significant. But, of course, more is needed," he said.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has rapidly developed anti-drone technology and now offers its expertise to other countries, including some in the Middle East that have faced Iranian strikes.
It has focused on developing interceptors as an efficient and cheaper means of intercepting drones.
Ukrainian forces have had more difficulty downing Russian ballistic missiles and have asked Western allies to step up supplies of interceptors. Kyiv is also pressing for the rapid development of a European-designed air defence system, known as Freyja.
Drone shot down over Nato member Lithuania appears Russian, say sources
Tuesday 15 September 2026 23:00 , Jane DaltonAn Italian fighter jet deployed on a Nato mission shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace on Tuesday that "most probably" came from Russia, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said.
Authorities in Lithuania, a Nato and European Union member, said on Tuesday they were still investigating the origin of the debris.
A Ukrainian military source said the debris in the images appeared to be from a Geran-2, a long-range attack drone widely used by Russia.
If confirmed, it would be the first known instance of a Russian military drone entering Lithuania since last summer, when two Russian drones accidentally crashed in the country.
The drone entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, a Russian ally.
Zelensky says Russian drones attacked Moldova twice while he was in transit
Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:20 , Bryony GoochUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday that Russian drones attacked Moldovan airspace twice while he was in the country aboard his aircraft in transit.
Zelenskiy told the US television network CBS that he was in Moldova on Ukraine's western border, at Chisinau airport, on his way to and from a trip abroad when the incidents occurred.
"In Moldova, my presidential jet was there and that's why they attacked Moldova, the airspace of Moldova. Maybe they didn't want to attack me personally...," Zelensky said.
"When we came back home, again through Chisinau, again they did the same."
On 9 September, a Moldovan government spokesperson said the departure of Zelensky's aircraft for Norway was delayed as Moldovan authorities closed the country's airspace over a drone alert.
Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace on that day. One landed in a field north of the capital, triggering a fire, while the second carried on into Romanian airspace.
Zelensky had not previously spoken of the second incident.
It was not clear exactly when the president was again in transit in Moldova on his way back to Ukraine from Canada.
Moldovan authorities said two drones entered the country's airspace on Monday, September 14 for about 10 minutes each over the space of an hour before noon local time.
On Sunday, a Russian drone hit a passenger train on Ukraine's border with NATO member Poland, shortly after former British prime minister Boris Johnson and other European diplomats had used the same line.
No casualties were reported.
Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine will support energy ceasefire as 'first step' to end war
Tuesday 15 September 2026 22:00 , Maira ButtIn pictures: Aftermath of Russian drone strike in Kyiv
Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:30 , Maira Butt
Russia accuses Danish military helicopters of making dangerous manoeuvres near its warships, RIA reports
Tuesday 15 September 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtRussia has accused Danish military helicopters of making dangerous manoeuvres near its warships in the Baltic Sea, according to Russia’s RIA state news agency.
Moscow reportedly handed an official note to Copenhagen complaining about such incidents, Russia's ambassador to Denmark said on Tuesday, according to the outlet.
Vladimir Barbin, the ambassador, was speaking after the Nordic Nato member's military said that a Russian frigate had fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark on Monday, narrowly missing the aircraft.
EU chief to lay out priorities and vision for tackling the bloc's challenges in major speech
Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:30 , Maira ButtEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a major state of the European Union speech on Wednesday setting out her priorities for the next year and her vision for tackling the challenges faced by the world’s biggest trading bloc.
The content of von der Leyen ’s address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, has been kept under wraps. Political groups in the assembly have lobbied to get their priorities and pet projects included.
But the speech is likely to touch on AI, climate change and the fires that have swept Europe this summer, as well as protection for children online, Russia’s war on Ukraine, conflict across the Middle East and international trade tensions.
EU chief to lay out priorities and vision for tackling the bloc's challenges in major speech
Turkey accuses Russia of 'spreading war' to the Black Sea, threatening safety of citizens
Tuesday 15 September 2026 20:00 , Maira ButtTurkey’s foreign ministry has accused Russia of “spreading” the war to the Black Sea, saying that such actions threatened the safety of its citizens and is “unacceptable” in a statement made on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Russia 'testing Denmark's boundaries', say sanctions campaigners
Tuesday 15 September 2026 19:30 , Maira ButtCampaigners have warned that Russia is “testing” Denmark’s boundaries at sea following reports that a warship shot flares at a military helicopter.
“Russia is testing Denmark’s boundaries at sea. Denmark must now draw a clear line on land,” said Alexander Kirk at German sanctions campaign group, Urgewald.
“Fossil-fuel revenues sustain the Russian state budget and the military-industrial complex behind the war against Ukraine.
“Denmark’s response cannot stop at summoning the Russian ambassador. The government must stop Danish shipyards servicing these tankers and press for immediate EU restrictions.”
Animal rescuers severely injured in Russian drone attack while saving dogs in Ukraine
Tuesday 15 September 2026 19:00 , Maira ButtA Ukrainian animal rescuer has said he is “grateful to be alive” after his car was struck by a Russian drone while rescuing a group of stranded dogs from near the frontline.
Ruslan Horbal, a volunteer for Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK), was on a rescue mission in Ukraine’s war-torn eastern city of Kramatorsk, when a Russian drone hit the vehicle, killing one of the rescued dogs. He had only just gathered the animals into the back of the car when the attack took place.
“It happened very fast. There was an explosion, smoke and glass everywhere,” recalls Mr Horbal, who was hospitalised after the attack, in an interview with The Independent. “At first, I was confused. It took me a moment to understand what had happened. Then I started checking if everyone was alive and if the animals were OK. That’s when I realised I was badly injured too. There was a lot of blood.”
Animal rescuers severely injured in Russian drone attack while saving dogs in Ukraine
Who is Umar Kremlev? The Russian oligarch who helped bankroll Donald Trump Jr’s wedding
Tuesday 15 September 2026 18:30 , Maira ButtUmar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch linked to President Vladimir Putin, helped bankrolled Donald Trump Jr’s three-day luxury wedding in the Bahamas.
Payments contributed to an elaborate fireworks display and one of the two private islands where a reception was held and guests stayed, according to records reviewed by ProPublica show.
The money reportedly came from an entity tied to the International Boxing Association in Dubai, which is used by the organisation to conduct financial transactions.
Who is Umar Kremlev? Russian oligarch who helped bankroll Donald Trump Jr’s wedding
Russia says it struck two vessels in Ukrainian ports, continues to hit rail infrastructure
Tuesday 15 September 2026 18:16 , Bryony GoochRussian forces on Tuesday struck a ferry and a tanker in Ukrainian Black Sea ports, Russia's Defence Ministry said.
The ministry said the ferry was hit in the port of Chornomorsk and the tanker in the port of Izmail. Both vessels were being used to supply the Ukrainian military, it said.
The ministry also said Russian forces had struck a cargo train in the port of Pivdennyi and continued attacks on railway infrastructure in western Ukraine that it said was being used to transport military cargo from Europe. It provided no further details.
Reuters could not independently verify the claims.
