Volodymyr Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky is a Ukrainian politician and former actor who was elected President of Ukraine in 2019. Before entering politics he gained fame as a comedian and producer, notably starring in the television series "Servant of the People", in which he played a schoolteacher who becomes president. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 he has led the country's wartime leadership and become the principal international spokesperson for Ukraine.
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Colonel Oleksandr Dmukhovskyi named commander of Ukraine's "small" air defence forces
Ukraine's Air Force has appointed Colonel Oleksandr Dmukhovskyi to head its "small" air defence command, the service's spokesperson said on 5 September. The appointment comes as Russia has sharply scaled up its use of jet-powered attack drones, rising from roughly 350 in June to over 2,800 in August.
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Russia hits Kyiv and Boryspil airports in overnight missile and drone attack
Russia struck Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast overnight on 5 September with ballistic missiles and a large drone salvo, damaging airports in Kyiv and Boryspil, residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. Five people were killed in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in the same wave of attacks. President Zelensky suggested the strikes on the airports may be a Kremlin reaction to discussions of a US visit to Ukraine.
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Russian strike hits SBU headquarters in central Kyiv; Radio NV poll finds plurality expecting retaliatory hit on FSB in Moscow
On September 4, Russian forces struck the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) headquarters in central Kyiv. A Radio NV poll of 918 people asked respondents whether they expected a retaliatory strike on the FSB building in Moscow. Nearly half of respondents said they very much expected such a strike, while smaller shares said it would be futile or only symbolic. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called the attack a serious escalation, and the SBU said its response would be painful for the enemy.
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First EU–Ukraine Drone Alliance meeting set for 11 September in Brussels
The first meeting of the EU–Ukraine Drone Alliance is scheduled for 11 September in Brussels, bringing together EU and Ukrainian drone manufacturers with European Commission officials. European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius will attend, with 19 EU-side and 9 Ukrainian-side companies participating. The meeting will focus on assessing the current state of affairs, defining a timeline for action, and discussing initial measures aimed at accelerating the deployment of unmanned technologies and counter-drone systems across the EU.
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Russia strikes Kyiv and Boryspil airports as US envoys prepare to visit
In the night of September 4–5, Russia launched drone strikes across at least eight Ukrainian regions, with President Zelensky saying the attacks deliberately and for the first time in a long time targeted the Kyiv (Zhuliany) and Boryspil airports. Zelensky linked the airport strikes to discussions about the upcoming visit by US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. A drone hit a nine-story residential building in Boryspil, injuring two women, and a strike on an industrial enterprise in Kamianske killed and wounded civilians. Zelensky announced Ukraine would adjust its operations regarding Russian airspace the following week.
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Russian drone strike hits 9-story residential building in Boryspil, two women hospitalized
In the night of September 5, a Russian drone strike damaged a 9-story residential building in Boryspil, Kyiv Oblast, setting fire to the roof and an apartment. Two women were hospitalized with acoustic barotrauma and closed chest trauma. The Kyiv Oblast Military Administration initially reported no casualties before the head of the administration, Timur Tkachenko, confirmed the injuries.
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Trump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner to visit Moscow and Kyiv this weekend carrying war-ending proposal
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on the evening of September 4 that US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will travel to Moscow on Saturday September 5 and then to Kyiv on Sunday September 6, carrying a proposal to end the war. Zelensky said Ukraine would ensure the normal functioning of Russian airspace and refrain from strikes during the visit, and called on Russia to reciprocate with silence. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House the same day that the envoys are bringing a peace proposal and described the mission as having a good chance of success.
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NABU and SAP launch 'Carthage' operation targeting prosecutor's office official over alleged call-center scheme
On September 4, Ukraine's NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) announced a special operation codenamed "Carthage" aimed at exposing a criminal organization allegedly led by an official of the Office of the Prosecutor General. The group is suspected of providing cover for a network of fraudulent call centers and laundering assets. According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, Serhiy Kropyva, head of the OPG's cyber department, was detained. The OPG said it is cooperating with investigators and has suspended the suspect.
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Head of Ukraine's anti-corruption prosecutor's office reveals 'Femida' operation was first code-named 'Disneiland'
SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko said the operation later known as 'Femida' was initially code-named 'Disneiland' because the main suspect was nicknamed 'Miky Maus,' and was split into the 'Forest Gamp' and 'Femida' cases as the scheme developed. The cases target an alleged criminal organization that investigators say included a deputy head of the Office of the President, a former MP, state bank officials and a former head of financial monitoring at Sense Bank, with the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) setting preventive measures for several suspects in August and early September.
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Russian drone strikes SBU headquarters in central Kyiv, hits building opposite Saint Sophia Cathedral
On September 4, a Russian drone struck the central building of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Volodymyrska Street in central Kyiv, opposite Saint Sophia Cathedral. A fire broke out and part of the floor structure and outer wall were destroyed. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone was directed at the office of acting SBU head Oleksandr Poklad, who was not in the building at the time, and ordered preparation of an adequate, tangible, and where possible mirror response.
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Budanov reveals years of back-channel contacts with Russia's GRU chief and Prigozhin, advises Zelensky against Donbas concessions
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with The New York Times published on 4 September that he maintained long-running contacts with Russian military intelligence chief Admiral Igor Kostyukov and the late Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. He advised President Volodymyr Zelensky not to accept any compromise on Donbas that would give Russia formal control over territory its military failed to seize on the battlefield.
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Spain to increase Patriot missile deliveries to Ukraine, foreign minister says
Spain will increase deliveries of missiles for Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced on 3 September at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland. The announcement followed a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on 2 September, during which Albares confirmed the increase and recalled Spain's role as a co-founder of a new air defence coalition for Ukraine.
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Russian attack hits Teva pharmaceutical warehouse in Ukraine twice in one day
A Teva pharmaceutical warehouse in Kyiv Oblast was struck twice in a single day by Russian drones as part of a massive drone attack, the company said. Teva reported that no employees were injured, stated it is continuing to operate, and is working to preserve medicine supplies for Ukrainian patients.
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Ukrainian drones hit Sochi air-defence site and oil depot overnight, sparking fuel shortages
On the night of September 4, Ukrainian drones struck a Russian air-defence position near the Sirius settlement close to Sochi and an oil depot in the city's Adler district, according to Ukrainian and independent OSINT reporting. Fires burned at both locations and a column of flame was seen from kilometres away. Sochi airport introduced temporary aircraft and refueling restrictions, and the city administration urged residents and tourists to use public transport as gasoline was being sold at only about two-thirds of municipal filling stations.
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Ukraine shoots down Russian Geran-5 jet-powered drones near Kyiv for second day running
Ukrainian air defense intercepted Russian Geran-5 jet-powered strike drones in the Kyiv area for the second consecutive day on September 3, according to presidential advisor Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov. Six people in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured by falling drone debris as air raid alerts were declared six times across the capital.
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Russian strikes hit 13 oblasts overnight; drone strike on Odesa apartment building injures 17, including 3 children
On the night of September 3, Russian attacks caused destruction or damage in 13 Ukrainian oblasts, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported via social media. A drone hit a residential high-rise in Odesa, injuring 17 people including three children, while strikes on Obukhiv and Boryspil districts in Kyiv Oblast sparked a fire at a pharmaceutical warehouse. Zelensky said Russia is continuing to escalate and called on partners to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, including anti-missile and anti-drone systems.
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Putin says Russia and Ukraine must negotiate peace bilaterally, calls Zelenskyy's airspace warning 'state terrorism'
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 3, Vladimir Putin said Russia and Ukraine must negotiate an end to the war directly between themselves, with other countries only supporting, and claimed there is a chance for a peaceful settlement. He described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's warnings that Russian airspace is unsafe for civil aviation as state terrorism that complicates peace talks, and accused Ukraine's Western partners of silence. His comments come a day after Ukraine formally notified the ICAO that Russian airspace is dangerous for civil aviation.
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Zelensky announces preliminary dates for US envoy visits to Kyiv and Moscow
On September 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said preliminary dates have been agreed for meetings between representatives of US President Donald Trump and the warring sides, with visits planned for both Kyiv and Moscow. Zelensky said Ukraine expects the Kyiv meeting "in the coming days."
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India's foreign minister makes first standalone bilateral visit to Ukraine, meets Zelensky and Sybiha in Kyiv
India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar arrived in Kyiv on 3 September for the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian foreign minister to Ukraine. He held talks and a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and met President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing peace efforts, bilateral trade and cooperation, freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, and global food security. Jaishankar said the war would be resolved through diplomacy and negotiations, not through decisions by individual countries to buy or not buy Russian oil.
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Ukraine's government submits four draft laws tied to €1.45 billion EU tranche
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved and sent to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, four draft laws that are conditions for receiving the third €1.45 billion tranche of EU macro-financial assistance and are tied to broader obligations to the EU and IMF. Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky announced the move, framing it as necessary for unlocking a significant portion of the $29.5 billion in expected partner assistance.