Ukraine-Russia

Ukraine-Russia
US offers Ukraine more intelligence on Russia
The United States will provide Ukraine with intelligence on long-range energy infrastructure deep inside Russia, in a move that would signal a significant shift in the White House’s support for Kyiv. This would mark the first policy change by U.S. President Donald Trump since his social media comments that Ukraine could win back all of the territory occupied by Russia in September. According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. is also calling upon NATO allies to provide similar support. Washington has long been offering intelligence to Kyiv. Still, the new data will make it easier for Ukraine to hit infrastructure such as refineries, pipelines and power plants with the aim of depriving the Kremlin of revenue and oil. “The US transmits intelligence to Ukraine on a regular basis online,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in response to the reports. “The supply and use of the entire infrastructure of NATO and the US to collect and transfer intelligence to Ukrainians is obvious.” This comes as the U.S. considers a Ukrainian request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of 2,500km, that could easily hit Moscow and most of European Russia if fired from Ukraine.
Ukraine-Russia
Russia warns US missiles to Ukraine risk escalation
Russia has warned that escalation will occur if the United States supplies Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. This update came from the Kremlin just one day after U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that Washington was weighing up a request from Ukraine for the missiles. A final decision is still to be made by President Donald Trump, who has been showing increasing frustration with Russia over the ongoing refusal of a ceasefire. Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 kilometres, which, if fired from Ukraine, would have the ability to strike Moscow and most of European Russia. "The question... is this: who can launch these missiles...? Can only Ukrainians launch them, or do American soldiers have to do that?" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Vance's remarks on Monday, saying that "a very in-depth analysis" was needed. Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian parliament's defence committee, also said that U.S. military specialists who helped Ukraine to launch Tomahawks against Russia would become targets. "And no one will protect them. Not Trump, not Kellogg, nor anyone else," he said. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Washington to sell Tomahawks to European n
Ukraine-Russia
Russia launches massive drone, missile assault on Kyiv
Russia has unleashed one of its heaviest overnight assaults on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, pounding Kyiv and other regions with drones and missiles in a barrage that lasted more than 12 hours. Ukraine’s military reported that Moscow launched 595 drones and 48 missiles early on Sunday, with air defences intercepting 568 drones and 43 missiles. The capital Kyiv was the primary target, with strikes leaving at least four people dead, including a child, and injuring 80 more. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said two of the fatalities occurred at a cardiology clinic in Kyiv. He added that residential buildings, factories and power generation facilities were among the damaged sites. Russia’s defence ministry confirmed it had carried out what it called a “massive” strike using long-range air- and sea-launched weapons, claiming military infrastructure such as airfields was targeted. Moscow has consistently denied deliberately striking civilian areas, despite repeated attacks that have destroyed housing blocks and killed thousands. Neighbouring Poland temporarily closed airspace near two southeastern cities as a precaution and scrambled fighter jets until the danger had passed.
Ukraine-Russia
Ukraine hits Gazprom Russian oil plant twice in one week
Ukrainian drones have struck a major Russian petrochemical plant for the second time in less than a week, as Ukraine steps up its attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure. The Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex is Russia’s 10th largest refinery, located in the Ural Mountains region of Bashkortostan. Ukraine has attacked 16 Russian refineries since the start of August. “Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat has been subjected to another terrorist drone attack. We are assessing the extent of the damage. All emergency services are on scene, and firefighting measures are underway,” wrote Bashkortostan’s head of government Radiy Khabirov. Ukrainian drones also struck Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat on 18 September, similarly causing a fire at the facility. Its drones first attacked the refinery in May 2024. The complex has an annual capacity of 10 million tonnes, and includes two chemical plants as well as an oil refinery. Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has restricted oil storage in its pipeline system and told producers that output cuts may be needed amid Ukraine’s attacks on refineries, Reuters reported last week. Transneft has denied this. These strikes on Russia’s oil infrastructure reportedly reduced the country’s refining c
Ukraine-Russia
Zelenskyy: Russia poses global security threat
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned world leaders of the international security risk posed by Russia if the war isn’t stopped at the United Nations National Assembly. He said more countries are at risk of meeting Russia’s aggression unless allies display a united front and ramp up support. “No one but ourselves can guarantee security,” he said. “Only strong alliances. Only strong partners. And only our own weapons.” Zelenskyy said only those with “weapons decide who survives”, calling it a “terrible” but unavoidable reality. “Ukrainians are peaceful people, but they are people who want to live freely in their own independent country,” he said. “That’s why we invest in defence. For many nations, there is simply no other way left.” The Ukrainian President called upon nations to collectively act to end the war, saying that while 40 countries are already part of Ukraine’s coalition, they still need broader support. “Stopping this war now and within the global arms race is cheaper than building underground kindergartens or massive bunkers for critical infrastructure later,” he said. “Stopping Russia now is cheaper than wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone carrying a nuclear warh

Ukraine-Russia
Trump: Ukraine can reclaim all territory lost to Russia
United States President Donald Trump has shifted his stance on the war in Ukraine, saying he now believes Kyiv can regain all of the territory seized by Russia since its invasion. The comments came shortly after Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.” The statement marked a significant departure from his earlier position that both Ukraine and Russia would need to cede territory in order to end the conflict. Trump has previously suggested Kyiv might have to give up Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine to reach a settlement. Zelenskyy has been urging stronger support from Washington, including tougher sanctions on Moscow. Many Ukrainians were unsettled by Trump’s decision to host Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Alaska in August, fearing it signalled weakness toward Moscow’s aggression. In Tuesday’s post, Trump criticised Russia, noting: “Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years [in] a War th
Ukraine-Russia
UK, Poland vow to defend NATO airspace
United Kingdom and Polish officials vow to shoot down any Russian aircraft violating their airspace after NATO members accused Moscow of incursions into the alliance's territory. “If another missile or aircraft enters our space without permission, deliberately or by mistake, and gets shot down and the wreckage falls on Nato territory, please don’t come here to whine about it,” Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, told an emergency meeting of the UN security council in New York on Monday that was called to discuss a Russian airspace incursion over Estonia. This echoes warnings from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said Russian aircraft that fly over Poland will be shot down without discussion. UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper shared similar sentiments and accused Russia of “violating its most basic obligations under the UN Charter”. “These latest acts are dangerous and reckless,” she said. “At worst, they are a deliberate attempt to undermine the territorial integrity of sovereign nations and European security.” “They risk miscalculation, they open the door to direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia.” She said that Russia’s warmongering was a threat to international peace and that NA
Ukraine-Russia
Ukraine attacks major Russian oil refinery
Ukraine launched at least 361 drones at Russia overnight, attacking one of Russia’s largest oil refineries. Falling debris from drone attacks sparked a fire at the Kirishi oil refinery east of Saint Petersburg, Russian officials said, with no injuries reported. Kirishi refines around 6.4% of Russia’s total barrels of oil per day, and is owned by Russian oil company Bashneft. “The most effective sanctions – the sanctions that work the fastest – are firing on Russian oil plants, on their terminals, on their oil depots,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “They have significantly restricted the Russian oil industry, and this significantly limits the war.” Bashneft has said it will maintain production levels despite the damage to the refinery. The extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed. Russia also said it had shot down Ukrainian guided aerial bombs and high mobility artillery rockets. Ukraine’s military reported shooting down a Russian ballistic missile along with 164 drones. United States President Donald Trump said that the U.S. is prepared to add new sanctions on Russia if NATO countries stop purchasing oil from Russia. Turkey, a NATO member, is the third largest international buyer of Russian
Ukraine-Russia
EU envoy in Washington for Russia sanction talks
An envoy from the European Union has conducted meetings in Washington around further sanctions against Russia. The most senior EU sanctions envoy, David O'Sullivan, went to the U.S. the day after President Donald Trump confirmed to press he was thinking about a second phase of sanctions against Russia, in the wake of their largest airstrike ever on Ukraine. A European Commission spokesperson also confirmed that its president, Ursula von der Leyen, had had a phone call with U.S. vice-president, JD Vance the week before and “the only topic during the call was Ukraine”. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed late on Monday that he had met with O'Sullivan, and Trump's “strategy to support peace negotiations” was open to any and all options.Credit: U.S. Department of the Treasury via X"We are willing to take strong measures against Russia, but our European partners must fully join us in this to be successful," he wrote on X. The EU is currently drafting a 19th package of Russia sanctions; however, Kremlin said on Monday that no sanctions would force Russia to change course or tactics.