Death toll from Russian air attack on Kyiv rises to 12 people, says Ukraine

The death toll from Russia’s air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region has risen to 12 people, authorities said.

Several more were injured in what was the sixth consecutive day of strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

More explosions were heard in the capital on Tuesday morning, a witness told the Reuters news agency.

Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Russian drones and ballistic missiles had targeted residential areas and railway infrastructure in the heavy overnight attacks.

Alex Croft1 September 2026 11:40

Ukrainian PM calls on lawmakers to speed voting on key laws

Ukraine's prime minister Sergii Koretskyi called on lawmakers on Tuesday to speed up voting on key legislation to help secure necessary financing for Ukraine.

Kyiv is currently facing a $27 billion (£23 billion) deficit for defence, he said.

Koretskyi added that his government would audit the needs of the defence ministry.

Alex Croft1 September 2026 11:37

Watch: Modi implores visibly-uncomfortable Putin to end Ukraine war

Alex Croft1 September 2026 11:12

Russia launched more than 2,800 jet-powered drones at Ukraine in August - Kyiv

Russia launched more than 2,800 jet-powered drones at Ukraine in August, Ukraine's air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat has said.

Their interception rate of the drones, which are harder to shoot down due to their higher speed, was lower compared with other types of drones, at around 60 per cent, Ihnat told Ukrainian television.

Kyiv said earlier on Monday that Moscow had bombarded the capital with jet-powered drones in a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Monday, killing at least nine people and injuring over a dozen.

The drones which can travel up to 600 kilometres per hour — triple the speed of the piston-powered Shaheds deployed in earlier stages of the conflict.

Alex Croft1 September 2026 10:51

Russia prepared to deliver 'devastating' response to any hostile action in Baltics

We’ve heard more from foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who spoke about tensions in the Baltic region in her weekly press briefing on Tuesday.

Moscow is prepared to deliver a devastating response to any hostile action against it in the Baltic region, she said.

"In the event of a further escalation of the military-political situation in the Baltic region, it must be emphasized once again: Russia’s response to the instigators of reckless anti-Russian ventures will be decisive,” Zakharova told reporters.

“And they need to know this - it will be devastating for them," Zakharova she added.

Alex Croft1 September 2026 10:31

Moscow preparing to announce new UK ambassador, says foreign ministry

Moscow is preparing to announce a new ambassador to the UK, just weeks after its previous envoy left as tensions between the countries ramp up.

Andrei Kelin’s departure in July after more than seven years in the post prompted media speculation that Moscow was downgrading diplomatic relations with Britain. This was denied by Moscow.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that the naming of a new ambassador was the prerogative of president Vladimir Putin and the procedure for the appointment was not a public matter.

She said Kelin had served through an extremely difficult period "in the face of British efforts to completely dismantle bilateral relations".

Britain is a leading ally of Ukraine and provides it with weapons including missiles and drones.

Russia warned Britain last month that it would face unspecified "consequences" for supplying drones that were used by Ukraine to attack Russian territory.

Alex Croft1 September 2026 10:09

Modi tells visibly tense Putin to end Ukraine war ‘for humanity’s sake’

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi implored Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Kyrgyzstan that Russia's war in Ukraine needed to end for the sake of humanity.

Mr Modi called the Russian president “my ⁠friend” and hailed growing economic ties between their countries before pivoting to the years-long war in Ukraine.

Mr Putin looked tense, constantly tapping his feet, at the beginning of the meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on Monday.

"Every day that the war continues, humanity is, in effect, set back a step, whilst every step towards peace gives all of humanity real hope for peace. We need to move from endless war to an end to the war, to a cessation of hostilities," Mr Modi said.

"And we will need to move precisely in this direction.”

Alisha Rahman Sarkar reports:

Alex Croft1 September 2026 09:47

Watch: Russian FPV drone strike sparks high-rise fire as rescuers evacuate residents

Alex Croft1 September 2026 09:28

Ukraine says it has trapped around 2,500 Russian soldiers on Black Sea strip of land

Kyiv says its forces have trapped around 2,500 Russian soldiers on a tiny strip of land stretching into the Black Sea, according to a report.

The troops are stranded on the occupied Kinburn Spit, a long ridge of sand which juts out from Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, Ukrainian commanders told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Crimea.Realities podcast.

Drone strikes have targeted deliveries of ammunition and food, a recconnaisance commander with the call sign ‘Yava’ said on the podcast according to United24.

Ukrainian drone strikes have also destroyed most of Russia’s artillery and self-propelled guns that were being operated from the spit, Kyiv said.

“They are screaming in intercepted communications that they cannot organize logistics, that they do not want to go there because it means death,” he said, adding: “the spit has become a trap for them.”

Alex Croft1 September 2026 09:05

Bessent told Russian minister no economic relief until Ukraine war ends

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has made clear to Russian finance minister Anton ⁠Siluanov that there will be no economic relief for Russia or agreements on other issues until its war in Ukraine ends, a source ⁠familiar with the ​ministers' ⁠bilateral meeting told Reuters.

Bessent met bilaterally with Siluanov on the sidelines of a G20 finance leaders meeting in Asheville, North Carolina.

The ​Russian ⁠finance minister's first in-person ‌G20 appearance since Russia invaded Ukraine has irritated European officials who are working on more ‌sanctions against Russia.

Earlier, a US official told Reuters the focus of the Bessent-Siluanov meeting was president Donald Trump's peace plan for Ukraine.

Russia's finance ministry said the two officials discussed financial cooperation within the G20 framework.

When Siluanov tried to discuss areas of mutual interest, the source said Bessent interrupted him and said "nothing is possible until the war is over."

The US imposed sanctions on Russia's oil majors in October 2025, but after the US-Israeli war against Iran cut off energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, Bessent issued licences allowing the sale of seaborne Russian oil stored in tankers to ease supplies, sending some funds to Moscow.

Alex Croft1 September 2026 08:49