Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
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Shooting between SBU and HUR in Kyiv leads to dismissals and dismissal announcements at top of both services
On the night of 1 September into the morning of 2 September 2026, a shooting on Yurii Shumskoho Street in Kyiv's Berezniaky district brought the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and military intelligence (HUR) into an armed confrontation during investigative actions at the apartment of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy combat commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), who had been missing since 23 August. Three HUR servicemembers were wounded. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the incident "absolutely shameful," signed a decree dismissing Oleh Khramov from the SBU Department of State Secrets Protection and Licensing, and announced that deputies of the heads of both the SBU and HUR would also be dismissed. On 3 September, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said two participants — an SBU officer and a HUR servicemember — had been served with notices of suspicion.
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Putin at Eastern Economic Forum calls Ukraine airspace warnings 'state terrorism,' says chance for peace exists
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Vladimir Putin said Russia and Ukraine must primarily negotiate an end to the war between themselves, while other countries including the United States and China are ready to support. He said there is a chance for a peaceful settlement but described Ukraine's recent warnings about the dangers of Russian airspace for civil aviation as state terrorism that complicates peace talks, and accused Ukraine's Western partners of silence.
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Ukraine's military intelligence warns of disinformation campaign amid clash with SBU
On 3 September, Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) said a targeted disinformation campaign is being rolled out to discredit military intelligence and its combat units. The warning came the day after an armed shootout in Kyiv between HUR-affiliated personnel and SBU operatives linked to the detention of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, who is accused by the SBU of ties to Russia's FSB.
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Ukraine's SBU says it foiled alleged FSB plot to kill Chechen exile Zakayev; shootout with GUR in Kyiv sparks inter-agency crisis
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced on 3 September that it had prevented an alleged FSB-ordered plot to assassinate Akhmed Zakayev, the exiled head of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria's government, who had travelled to Kyiv for Independence Day on 24 August. The SBU named Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) deputy commander Stepan Kaplunov as the alleged organizer. The case triggered a shootout between SBU and military intelligence (GUR) operatives in Kyiv's Berezniaky district on 2 September that left three GUR personnel wounded, and has escalated into an open clash between the two agencies over who is telling the truth about what happened.
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Moscow's Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports halt flights for second night after Zelensky's airspace warning
Moscow's Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports suspended arrivals and departures for a second consecutive night following warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russian airspace is becoming unsafe for civil aviation due to drone activity linked to the war. Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, said temporary restrictions had been imposed at Moscow-region airports, and Flightradar24 data showed hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed during the previous disruption. Ukraine has formally notified ICAO and is pushing for an international ban on civil flights over Russia, while Moscow has rejected the warnings as legally invalid and insisted its aviation remains safe.
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Zelensky's Stavka meeting accelerates production of high-speed interceptors to counter jet-powered Shaheds
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff focused on accelerating the production of high-speed interceptor drones designed to counter Russian jet-powered Shahed-type attack drones. Zelensky said Ukrainian manufacturers are capable of the task, prototypes have already been developed, and specific deadlines were set for engaging business in air defense production, supply and configuration. He also said Ukraine will act asymmetrically in response to Russia's growing production of high-speed attack means.
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Ukraine asks EU to finance Patriot missiles from €90 billion loan; von der Leyen confirms review
Ukraine has formally requested that the European Commission finance the purchase of US-made PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems from the EU's €90 billion support loan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed receipt of the request on 2 September ahead of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, saying EU member states are reviewing it and that the process is "moving in the right direction." Because PAC-3 missiles are produced outside the EU and Ukraine, the purchase requires a special exemption from the loan's "buy European" rule, with the final decision resting with EU member states.
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Armed clash between SBU and military intelligence erupts in Kyiv during search tied to Russian Volunteer Corps figure
An armed confrontation between officers of Ukraine's SBU and HUR military intelligence broke out overnight on September 2, 2026, in Kyiv's Berezniaky neighborhood, leaving three HUR servicemen wounded. The incident, linked to the case of RDK deputy combat commander Stepan Kaplunov, has prompted President Zelensky to demand explanations and dismiss a senior SBU official.
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Ukraine's PM announces budget savings regime, 70 billion hryvnias redirected to defense
Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky told the Verkhovna Rada on September 1 that the government has introduced a strict budget-savings regime for non-defense spending and will redirect 70 billion hryvnias to the Defense Forces. He said the defense budget faces a $27 billion deficit, which Ukraine is asking partners to cover through emergency financing, and announced a one-month audit of the Ministry of Defense.
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Musk remains opposed to letting Ukraine use Starlink for strikes on Russia despite talks with Fedorov, sources say
Elon Musk has engaged in talks with former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov about allowing Starlink to be used to control drone strikes on Russian territory, but remains opposed after what one source described as "extremely unsuccessful" negotiations. According to sources cited by Kyiv Independent, Musk does not believe that granting such permission would help end the war and wants a deal rather than escalation. The Financial Times, citing Fedorov's account, earlier reported Musk was willing to allow strikes conditional on White House approval — a version of events that, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, prompted Donald Trump to accuse him of "deceiving" him.