Topic: Politics
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Zelensky announces first combat use of Ukrainian-made FP-7 ballistic missile
On 1 October, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the first combat use of the FP-7, a domestically developed tactical ballistic missile made by Ukrainian defense company Fire Point. He posted a launch video on social media but did not disclose the target, location, or outcome. The Wall Street Journal, citing its own sources, reported the missile was used against a target in Russian-occupied territory, though the success of the strike remains unclear.
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Four US House lawmakers urge Trump not to ease Russia sanctions, push for "Graham Law"
Four members of the Congressional Ukraine Support Group — Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Quigley, and Joe Wilson — sent a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump urging him not to weaken sanctions against Russia and instead to apply the recently signed "Graham Law." The appeal responds to reports that the Trump administration was weighing easing sanctions and restoring economic ties to Moscow in exchange for Russia releasing political prisoners. The letter argues that loosening sanctions would embolden Russia and prolong the war, and calls for swift action to increase economic pressure on Moscow.
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Ukraine says defence deficit for 2026 is $27 billion, $20 billion in partner talks
Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky said Ukraine's 2026 defence budget deficit stands at $27 billion. About $7 billion is to be covered through domestic austerity and reallocation, while the remaining $20 billion is being negotiated with international partners. The government is racing to meet commitments by mid-October or risk losing access to $29.5 billion in planned international financing.
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More than half of Ukraine's F-16s grounded by Belgian maintenance delays
A Wall Street Journal report says more than half of Ukraine's F-16 fighters are non-combat-ready because phased technical inspections carried out by Belgian contractor Sabena Aerospace Engineering under a U.S. contract are taking far longer than in the United States. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed to the Financial Times that roughly half the fleet is in long-term repair in Europe and said Ukraine wants to move most of that maintenance onto its own territory with Western support. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesman publicly disputed the 'catastrophically low' readiness framing, saying turnaround times are actually shortening.
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Ukraine's commander-in-chief orders review of General Staff officers, prioritising combat experience
Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi has launched a personnel review of officers serving in Ukraine's General Staff, with the stated goal of retaining those who have combat experience and are capable of commanding troops. On 28 September he personally met heads of the General Staff's structural subdivisions to set out his expectations, with a 2 October deadline for reports on officers lacking frontline experience since 2022 and for eligible officers to decide on discharge.
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Ukraine's defense budget faces $27 billion deficit, PM says $20 billion to come from partners
Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky said Ukraine's defense budget has a $27 billion shortfall — part of the $155 billion war financing figure declared at February's Ramstein-format meeting. Around $7 billion is to be covered through domestic austerity and internal reallocation, with roughly $20 billion being sought from international partners for drones, missiles and military equipment.
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Ukraine's cabinet backs monument to Hetman Mazepa in central Kyiv on site of dismantled Lenin statue
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed a Ministry of Culture proposal to erect a monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv, on the site of the Lenin monument toppled during the Euromaidan in 2013. The initiative was put forward by President Volodymyr Zelensky in June and is being implemented under a presidential decree.
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Former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Kravchenko registered residence in Vienna after leaving Ukraine
Former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and his wife Oleksandra registered their residence at an office address in central Vienna, according to Ukrainska Pravda, citing documents from Austria's Central Register of Residence. The registration followed Kravchenko's departure from Ukraine on 14 September, his suspension by President Zelensky the same evening, and the Verkhovna Rada's 317-vote acceptance of his dismissal on 15 September. Kravchenko remained abroad after his self-arranged business trip to Paris ended on 18 September and tendered his resignation on 21 September.
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EU extends Ukraine sanctions for three years but drops Usmanov and Fridman, prompting Ukrainian criticism
On 22 September, the EU Council extended Ukraine-related sanctions for 36 months until 22 September 2029, the first time the regime has been renewed for three years instead of the usual six-month cycle. In the same decision, the EU removed Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list. Ukraine called the delisting "shameful" and unjustified, and the Baltic states announced national sanctions in response. A day later, on 23 September, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned French citizen Martin Ryan, who had been sentenced to ten years in prison on espionage charges that France rejects.
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Ukraine ministry probes restoration department director over alleged bribe linked to previous job
Investigative actions took place on 23 September at Ukraine's Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport over allegations that Viktor Steblinenko, Director of the Restoration Policy Department, received illicit benefit in connection with his previous position. The ministry says the case is unrelated to his current duties and has moved to suspend him and launch an internal audit.
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EU extends Ukraine-related sanctions three years but drops Usmanov and Fridman in compromise
EU ambassadors agreed on 22 September to extend the bloc's individual sanctions related to Ukraine's territorial integrity for 36 months, until 22 September 2029, in a compromise that removes Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list. Latvia, the only holdout, lifted its veto and abstained, and announced it will impose its own national sanctions against the two men.
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Ukraine's Sybiha rebukes Hungary's Magyar over 'Carpathian Eight' refusal and oil-storage rejection
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar on X for refusing to join Ukraine's "Carpathian Eight" regional initiative and blocking construction of oil storage facilities on Hungarian territory for Ukraine's needs. Sybiha called Magyar's remarks "unreasonably confrontational" and likened them to former prime minister Viktor Orbán's policies. Magyar and Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán pushed back, with Magyar citing a sovereignty objection and Anita Orbán rejecting the Orbán comparison.
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Former Ukrainian prosecutor general Kravchenko fired from prosecution service after failing to return from abroad
Former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who left Ukraine on a self-arranged five-day business trip in mid-September, had not returned to work at the Office of the Prosecutor General by 14:00 on 21 September, three days after his trip officially ended. He had already been suspended by the president on 14 September and dismissed by parliament on 15 September, and on 21 September he was formally removed from the prosecution service by acting Prosecutor General Anton Kovalsky.
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EU Coreper fails to extend Russia sanctions as Slovakia and France push to delist oligarchs
EU ambassadors meeting on 21 September failed to reach consensus on extending the bloc's individual sanctions regime against Russia, which covers roughly 3,000 individuals and entities including Vladimir Putin. Slovakia and France insisted on delisting sanctioned oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman; a compromise deal that would have extended the regime for 36 months in exchange for delisting them collapsed after Latvia blocked it. Coreper scheduled a further meeting for the morning of 22 September, hours before the midnight deadline at which the entire regime would lapse without unanimous renewal. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly called any delisting unacceptable and a wrong signal to Moscow.
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Ukrainian drone strike halts Moscow oil refinery on day of State Duma vote
On the night of 20 September, Ukrainian forces struck the Gazpromneft-Moscow refinery in the Kapotnya district of Moscow with a combined drone and missile attack, setting both primary crude distillation units ablaze and forcing a full halt of oil processing. Ukraine's General Staff says cumulative strikes have now knocked out more than 45% of Russia's designed oil refining capacity. The attack fell on the day of Russia's State Duma election, with Moscow authorities not activating air raid sirens or SMS warnings, an omission analysts at the Institute for the Study of War linked to a priority on voter turnout over civilian safety.
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Polish defence minister says Ukraine's air defence is Poland's own security interest
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told the Sejm on 18 September that Poland's security depends on Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones, and accused parts of the opposition of rhetoric that serves Russian interests. The same day Prime Minister Donald Tusk was in Ukraine for the Carpathian Integration Initiative summit and said NATO, Ukrainian and Polish intelligence expect Russia to intensify attacks on Ukraine and its partners in the coming months.
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Verkhovna Rada faces 26-day gap in plenary sessions as MP and press service clash over whether parliament is on break
The Verkhovna Rada will not hold plenary sessions from 17 September to 13 October, according to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak. The parliament's press service disputes this framing, saying the Rada continues to work through committees and other bodies. The gap comes as several laws tied to Ukraine's international commitments face year-end deadlines.
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Suspected eavesdropping device found in Lviv mayor's official car
Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi announced that a device possibly used for eavesdropping, containing an antenna and a SIM card, was discovered in his official service car. Sadovyi turned to law enforcement about the find and publicly challenged authorities to reinstall the device if it was placed there legally. The discovery comes roughly a year after a similar suspected listening device was reportedly found in his office.
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Trump signs 'Graham Act' imposing up to 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian energy
US President Donald Trump signed the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' on September 18, 2026 (overnight into September 19 Kyiv time). The law authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on imports from countries that remain among the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, and continues existing US sanctions against Iran. China, India, and Turkey are named as the most likely targets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Trump and Congress, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the signing a 'truly historic day.'
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Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada cancels September 18 plenary session; opposition MPs complain of lack of notice
The Verkhovna Rada abruptly cancelled its September 18 plenary session and Hour of Questions to the Government, with MPs and ministers learning of the cancellation upon arriving at parliament. Opposition lawmakers from European Solidarity and Holos publicly criticized the last-minute, poorly communicated decision. The Hour of Questions has been rescheduled to October 12.