Ukraine's military
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU) are the military forces of the Ukrainian state, comprising the Ground Forces, the Air Force, the Navy, and Special Operations Forces among other branches. The General Staff serves as the highest command body, with the current Commander-in-Chief being Oleksandr Syrskyi. Since 24 February 2022, the ZSU have been engaged in full-scale combat operations against the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the war initiated by Russia. The force was built on the foundations inherited from the Soviet-era Ukrainian SSR's military and has expanded significantly since the start of the full-scale invasion.
-
Ukraine reports 208 combat clashes on September 16; Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka most active
Ukraine's General Staff reported 208 combat clashes on the front line on September 16, 2026, with the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions identified as the most active sectors. Russian forces carried out 71 airstrikes, dropped 233 guided aerial bombs, deployed 4,704 kamikaze drones, and conducted 1,250 shellings of Ukrainian positions and settlements. The operational update was published as of 22:00 on September 16.
-
Ukraine's Third Army Corps confirms "Vivaldi" offensive near Lyman
Ukraine's Third Army Corps publicly confirmed on September 15 that it has been running an offensive operation codenamed "Vivaldi" in the northern part of Donetsk Oblast, east and northeast of Lyman. The corps revealed details of the first phase, which targeted Russian troop infiltration and logistics, and reported Russian losses in personnel, drones and equipment. The announcement broke months of operational secrecy around the fighting.
-
Ukraine tests new interceptor against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on September 15 that Ukraine had successfully tested a new interceptor drone designed to shoot down Russian jet-powered Shahed-type drones, following a briefing from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi. During the test the interceptor hit a Russian Shahed, though Zelensky said some aspects of the interceptor's control still need refinement. The announcement came alongside discussions of long-range strikes on Russia's oil infrastructure and Ukrainian de-escalation conditions.
-
Ukraine's government submits 2027 draft budget to parliament: defense at 44% of GDP, $52.6 billion external financing required
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved and submitted the draft State Budget for 2027 to the Verkhovna Rada on September 15, 2026. The bill, registered as No. 16000, allocates 4 trillion 885 billion hryvnias (about 43.8–44% of GDP) to defense and security, projects total expenditures of 7 trillion 272 billion hryvnias, and identifies an external financing requirement of $52.6 billion, of which only $20 billion has been confirmed by partners.
-
Valdai Discussion Club moved from Sochi to Moscow Oblast over Ukrainian drone threat
The annual Valdai Discussion Club meeting, traditionally held in Sochi each autumn, has been relocated to Moscow Oblast because of security concerns linked to intensified Ukrainian drone attacks, the Financial Times reported, citing four sources. About 120 invited participants learned in August that the venue had changed, after initially receiving invitations to Sochi; the forum is scheduled for 28 September to 1 October.
-
Ukraine's General Staff reports strikes on Russian drone launch site, EW stations, radar and fuel depot
Ukraine's General Staff said that on 14 September and overnight into 15 September, Ukrainian forces struck a series of Russian military targets. Hits were reported on a strike-drone storage and launch site in the Donetsk area, three electronic warfare stations in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, two radar stations, a MESH-network communications relay in Zlyntsi, and a fuel and lubricants warehouse in Luhansk Oblast. The extent of the damage is still being clarified.
-
Anti-corruption court extends Yermak's procedural obligations for 60 days, lifts electronic bracelet on medical grounds
Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (ВАКС) extended for 60 days the procedural obligations imposed on Andriy Yermak, the former head of the Office of the President, who is suspected of laundering property obtained through criminal means. The court declined to extend the requirement that Yermak wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, citing an independent medical specialist's finding that continued use could threaten his life and health.
-
Ukrainian strikes hit Russian military, drone and fuel targets across seven oblasts and Black Sea
On 14 September and during the night of 15 September 2026, Ukraine's Defense Forces carried out strikes on multiple Russian military targets spanning Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, Russia's Bryansk, Oryol, Samara, Krasnodar and Rostov oblasts, and targets in the Black Sea. Hits were reported on fuel and lubricant storage, drone storage and launch sites, electronic warfare and radar stations, an S-400 radar in Sochi, and an oil refinery in Syzran. The extent of damage is still being clarified.
-
Zelensky formally appoints Kovalenko as commander of Ukraine's Communications and Cyber Security Forces
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed decree №931/2026 on 15 September appointing Brigadier General Oleksiy Kovalenko as commander of the Communications and Cyber Security Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The decree formalizes a role Kovalenko had held in an acting capacity since 2023.
-
Russia launches 108 drones at Ukraine overnight; 85 intercepted, hits at seven locations
Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight into September 14 with 108 strike and decoy drones launched from multiple directions, the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported. Air defence shot down or suppressed 85 of the drones as of 08:00, with hits recorded at seven locations. Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat warned that further drone strikes could follow from northern and eastern directions during the day.
-
Ukraine strikes S-400 radar in Sochi and multiple Russian military targets
Ukraine's Defense Forces struck a 92N6 multifunctional radar station of a Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, on September 13 and overnight into September 14, 2026, according to Ukraine's General Staff. In the same operational window, Ukrainian forces hit drone storage, preparation and launch sites in the Kursk area and occupied Donetsk, a drone control point in Novohrodivka, radar stations and repeaters in Bryansk Oblast, and a short-range navigation radio system near the Saky airfield in occupied Crimea. The extent of the damage is being clarified; local Krasnodar Krai authorities reported damage to private houses in Sochi.
-
Ukraine's daily war cost rises to $190 million, budget chief says
Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the Verkhovna Rada budget committee, said at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kyiv that one day of war now costs Ukraine $190 million — $50 million more than in 2024. She warned that domestic resources are running short of defense needs and that Russian strikes have driven a VAT revenue shortfall.
-
Ukraine risks losing part of $29.5 billion in foreign financing without parliamentary votes, PM Koretsky warns
Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky warned that Ukraine risks losing a significant portion of an anticipated $29.5 billion in international financing if the Verkhovna Rada delays the required legislation, and said the government will send parliament a schedule with clear deadlines for each vote. He described the country's state finances as close to critical and said the government plans to complete its own share of 42 commitments by October 15, having accelerated the timeline from the previously announced November 1 deadline.
-
Russian drone strike hits apartment building in Ivano-Frankivsk, injuring at least one
On the morning of 13 September, Russian drones struck Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, damaging a residential high-rise and a non-residential building and injuring at least one person. Air defenses were active during the attack, and the city's railway station and public transport were suspended while the air-raid alert remained in effect.
-
Russia launches 453-drone overnight attack on Ukraine, one of largest of the conflict
Russian forces struck Ukraine overnight from 18:00 on September 12 with 453 strike UAVs of multiple types, including Shahed and jet-powered variants. Ukrainian air defense reported neutralizing around 405–409 of the incoming drones plus four Banderol missiles, while hits were recorded at 13 locations and falling debris at 7 more.
-
Ukraine's General Staff reports roughly 1,500 Russian personnel losses in past day
Ukraine's General Staff released its daily and cumulative Russian combat-loss update for September 12, 2026, reporting approximately 1,500 Russian personnel killed or wounded over the previous day and around 1,505,380 personnel lost since February 24, 2022. The update also tallied equipment losses across tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, air defense systems, drones, and other categories, with the General Staff noting that figures are subject to clarification.
-
Zelensky warns of retaliation if Russia hits Ukraine's energy system, proposes 'energy ceasefire' in talks
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on September 11 that Ukraine will respond "with dignity" if Russia strikes its energy system or causes blackouts this winter, while also outlining a negotiating alternative that includes an "energy ceasefire" and unblocking the Black Sea. He spoke during a conversation with journalist Fareed Zakaria at the Yalta European Strategy 2026 meeting and in a Telegram post, calling for continued prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children held in Russia.
-
Russia strikes Ukraine overnight with Banderol missile and 161 drones; Kyiv residential building hit
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight on September 11 with an S8000 "Banderol" cruise missile and 161 strike drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Parodia decoy variants. Ukrainian air defense shot down or suppressed 138 drones, but hits were recorded at 19 locations and debris fell at three more. In Kyiv, a nine-story residential building caught fire and at least seven people were injured.
-
General Staff: 277 combat clashes recorded over past day, Pokrovsk remains hottest direction
Ukraine's General Staff reported 277 combat clashes on the front over the past day, with the Pokrovsk direction again identified as the most active sector, where 44 Russian assaults were stopped. Russian forces carried out 91 airstrikes, dropped 331 guided aerial bombs, and used 10,913 kamikaze drones during the same period.
-
Ukraine's General Staff confirms strikes on Makhachkala port and Russian ships in Novorossiysk
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that in the night of 10 September, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Makhachkala seaport in Russia's Republic of Dagestan, where a fire was recorded. The General Staff also confirmed strikes on fuel-oil storage facilities in Novorossiysk on 9 September and on at least three Russian naval vessels there, including a minesweeper, a frigate, and a large landing ship.