Poland ramps up protection of Ukrainian borders

Poland is reinforcing its border crossings with Ukraine, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz says, after Russian drone attacks just miles from the Nato member's guard posts at the frontier over the weekend.

A Russian drone hit a passenger train on Ukraine's border with Poland on Sunday while another hit a truck at a nearby petrol station.

Border guards later said they had had to suspend crossings, evacuate vehicles and seek shelter.

"Recent days show that Russia's actions threaten the security of all of Europe. In accordance with our government's decision, the infrastructure used by the Border Guard is being strengthened," Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote.

"Soldiers of the 18th Engineer Regiment are already carrying out tasks, thanks to which the checkpoints and infrastructure near the Polish-Ukrainian border will be reinforced."

Jane Dalton16 September 2026 02:00

UN could move aid supplied underground as Russia ramps up strikes

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine ​says his organisation is considering moving aid supplies underground to dodge Russian strikes, which have hit 10 of its warehouses ⁠this year, destroying millions of pounds’ worth of supplies.

One of the World Health Organisation’s main warehouses containing medical supplies was hit earlier this month, and other strikes have ⁠destroyed hygiene kits and ​children's ⁠school supplies, said UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale.

"These deliberate attacks ⁠on warehousing capacities (...) is a new trend of ​the ⁠last few months," he ‌said.

He said ‌the UN was considering moving supplies into ‌underground bunkers and were delaying purchases of aid supplies until the last minute to reduce exposure to strikes.

"This feels ⁠increasingly like the front line is moving into the air," he said.

"That means extra cost also to the taxpayers, who at the end of the day pay for the goods that the UN and other humanitarians bring in," he said.

Jane Dalton16 September 2026 01:00

In pictures: A personal account of daily life in Kyiv

Jane Dalton15 September 2026 23:59

Zelensky says new anti-drone weapon being tested

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday ​that Ukraine was carrying out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit ⁠overnight.

"Another development is undergoing testing. It's a Ukrainian development and it scored a hit, the 'shahed' was destroyed," Zelensky said in his nightly video address, ⁠referring to the Iranian-designed ​drones that ⁠Ukraine's military has faced.

"But some technical things still need to be ⁠refined. We need a bit more time. The ​work ⁠of other developers ‌is continuing."

Ukraine's military said on Facebook that its forces had downed 187 airborne targets overnight.

In ‌his remarks, Zelensky said 93 per cent ‌of all Russian drones had been intercepted overnight.

"That is significant. But, of course, more is needed," ⁠he said.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has rapidly developed anti-drone technology and now offers its expertise to other countries, including some in the Middle East that have faced Iranian strikes.

It has focused on developing ‌interceptors as an efficient and cheaper means ​of intercepting drones.

Ukrainian forces have ‌had more difficulty downing ⁠Russian ballistic missiles and have asked Western ⁠allies to step up supplies of interceptors. Kyiv is ‌also pressing ​for the rapid development of ‌a European-designed air defence ​system, known as Freyja.

Bryony Gooch15 September 2026 23:27

Drone shot down over Nato member Lithuania appears Russian, say sources

An Italian ⁠fighter jet deployed on a Nato mission shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace on Tuesday that "most probably" came from Russia, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said.

Authorities in Lithuania, a Nato and European Union member, said on Tuesday they were still investigating the origin of the debris.

A Ukrainian military source said the debris in the images appeared to be from ⁠a Geran-2, a long-range attack drone widely used by ​Russia.

If confirmed, it would be the first known instance of a Russian military drone entering Lithuania ⁠since last summer, when two Russian drones accidentally crashed in the country.

The drone ​entered Lithuanian ⁠airspace from Belarus, a Russian ally.

Jane Dalton15 September 2026 23:00

Zelensky says Russian drones attacked Moldova twice while he was in transit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an ​interview broadcast on Tuesday that Russian drones attacked Moldovan airspace twice while he was in the country aboard his aircraft in transit.

Zelenskiy told the US ⁠television network CBS that he was in Moldova on Ukraine's western border, at Chisinau airport, on his way to and from a trip abroad when the incidents occurred.

"In Moldova, my ⁠presidential jet was there ​and ⁠that's why they attacked Moldova, the airspace of Moldova. Maybe they didn't want to attack me personally...," ⁠Zelensky said.

"When we came back home, again through ​Chisinau, ⁠again they did the same."

On ‌9 September, a Moldovan government spokesperson said the departure of Zelensky's aircraft for Norway was delayed as Moldovan authorities ‌closed the country's airspace over a ‌drone alert.

Two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace on that day. One landed in a field north of the capital, triggering a fire, while ⁠the second carried on into Romanian airspace.

Zelensky had not previously spoken of the second incident.

It was not clear exactly when the president was again in transit in Moldova on his way back to Ukraine from Canada.

Moldovan authorities said two drones entered the country's airspace on ‌Monday, September 14 for about 10 minutes ​each over the space of an hour before ‌noon local time.

On Sunday, ⁠a Russian drone hit a passenger train on Ukraine's ⁠border with NATO member Poland, shortly after former British prime minister ‌Boris Johnson and ​other European diplomats had used ‌the same line.

No casualties were ​reported.

Bryony Gooch15 September 2026 22:20

Watch: Zelensky says Ukraine will support energy ceasefire as 'first step' to end war

Maira Butt15 September 2026 22:00

In pictures: Aftermath of Russian drone strike in Kyiv

Maira Butt15 September 2026 21:30

Russia accuses Danish military helicopters of making dangerous manoeuvres near its warships, RIA reports

Russia has accused Danish military helicopters of making dangerous manoeuvres near its warships in the Baltic Sea, according to Russia’s RIA state news agency.

Moscow reportedly handed an official note to Copenhagen complaining about such incidents, Russia's ambassador to Denmark said on Tuesday, according to the outlet.

Vladimir Barbin, the ambassador, was speaking after the Nordic Nato member's military said that a Russian frigate had fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark on Monday, narrowly missing the aircraft.

Maira Butt15 September 2026 21:00

EU chief to lay out priorities and vision for tackling the bloc's challenges in major speech

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a major state of the European Union speech on Wednesday setting out her priorities for the next year and her vision for tackling the challenges faced by the world’s biggest trading bloc.

The content of von der Leyen ’s address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, has been kept under wraps. Political groups in the assembly have lobbied to get their priorities and pet projects included.

But the speech is likely to touch on AI, climate change and the fires that have swept Europe this summer, as well as protection for children online, Russia’s war on Ukraine, conflict across the Middle East and international trade tensions.

Maira Butt15 September 2026 20:30