In focus: How Ukraine’s devastating attacks on Putin’s oil refineries brought the war to Russia’s doorstepAll but five of Russia’s 32 major oil refineries have been hit by Ukrainian drone attacks, costing the country an estimated $20bn. Experts tell Maira Butt that Zelensky has brought the reality of Putin’s invasion to the doorstep:
James Reynolds23 September 2026 19:00
Five people killed and six wounded in Russian bombing in DonetskA Russian aerial bomb attack has killed five people and injured six in the village of Oleksandrivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, the regional governor says.
Vadym Filashkin said Russian forces had dropped four bombs on the village, near the city of Kramatorsk.
Filashkin said that, according to preliminary information, seven people remained beneath rubble, including two children.
Jane Dalton23 September 2026 18:41
Recap: Zelensky says Russia preparing major new attack on UkraineVolodymyr Zelensky says Russia is preparing a new major attack on Ukraine, based on Ukrainian intelligence, and that Kyiv is working with allies to strengthen its air defences.
“There’s intelligence right now that Russia is preparing a new massive attack against Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
It comes as a senior Nato commander has warned that Putin is becoming “increasingly cavalier, dangerous and risk-accepting”, as the war in Ukraine continues.
Soon after Zelensky met with US president Donald Trump, he said Ukraine has not received a “concrete answer” from the US on whether it will receive more Patriot missile interceptors, which are vital for defending against Russia’s now daily aerial attacks.
The Ukrainian president was speaking to reporters after a much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Asked about whether the US would take steps to ease Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot missiles, he said: “They are positive to help us, but I didn’t get the very concrete answer.”
Zelensky also said he hoped Russia’s war with his country would end “before winter”.
James Reynolds23 September 2026 18:00
Lavrov and Rubio discuss bilateral ties, international agenda, Russia saysRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state Marco Rubio discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral `and international agenda at a meeting on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Lavrov and Rubio discussed situations in several regions, including Ukraine and the Middle East.
The ministry said Lavrov emphasised the need to restore bilateral relations as soon as possible, while the two sides agreed to continue discussions.
Dan Haygarth23 September 2026 17:37
Rubio says Russia and Ukraine have both voiced interest in ‘limited ceasefire’Ukraine and Russia have both voiced an interest in a limited ceasefire involving grain and energy-related targets, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Wednesday after meeting Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in New York.
Ukraine, which fears Russia plans to pound power and heating facilities with missiles and drones this winter, has been pressing for ceasefires covering energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping.
“I think both sides have expressed an interest in some limited ceasefire that involve grain and energy. Obviously, you know, that won’t be easy either,” Rubio told reporters.
Russia has given no public indication it is ready to agree a maritime or energy truce with Ukraine and it was not immediately clear if Rubio was suggesting there had been movement on the Russian side after his talks with Lavrov.
Rubio noted that it was a particular challenge that energy strikes were at the core of both countries’ tactical priorities in their war, which is now in its fifth year.
World leaders have converged on New York this week for the annual UN General Assembly debate.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who was expected to address the General Assembly later on Wednesday, met US president Donald Trump on Tuesday and said they had discussed a ceasefire on energy-related targets.
The Ukrainian president told leaders at the United Nations earlier that Kyiv was ready for a maritime truce in the Black Sea based on proposals such as by Egypt, India and Turkey and said it was now up to Russia to respond.
Zelensky spoke at Ukraine’s Crimean Platform summit ahead of a Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“We are waiting for Russia’s response. Ukraine is ready … to ensure safe shipping and food security in the Black Sea if Russia is ready to take real steps towards de-escalation too. We have to start somewhere,” he said.
Ahead of the Lavrov-Rubio meeting, the Kremlin said there were no grounds for wider Ukraine peace talks, while saying it remained open to such talks.
“For now, there are no prerequisites for moving on to a peaceful negotiating track, although we, as the Russian side, remain open to peace talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Zelensky said on Tuesday that he would be ready to meet Putin at a trilateral meeting with Trump.
Dan Haygarth23 September 2026 17:35
One person killed as Russia strikes Ukrainian petrol stationsRussia slammed jet-powered drones into two petrol stations and other sites in Kyiv early on Wednesday, killing one, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump.
A further seven people were injured in the morning attack, city authorities said. Explosions were heard and smoke billowed in the city centre, according to Reuters journalists.
Russia has changed tactics and in recent weeks been attacking Kyiv and nearby areas with near constant barrages of the faster and high-flying jet drones that are harder to intercept.
Ukrainian oil company Ukrnafta said Russia hit one of its petrol stations in the capital — the sixth such facility attacked in recent weeks.
Firefighters work at the site of a business center hit by a Russian drone strike on Wednesday (Reuters)James Reynolds23 September 2026 17:00
Watch: The woman ridding Ukraine of Russian minesUkraine has been littered with mines since Putin invaded the country in 2022, posing a devastating risk to civilians.
Antonina Kulhava, a humanitarian deminer, tells Maira Butt how she is trying to make her country safer:
James Reynolds23 September 2026 16:00
Russia and Ukraine are interested in a limited ceasefire, Rubio saysUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday told reporters that both Russia and Ukraine had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire involving grain and energy.
James Reynolds23 September 2026 15:42
Starmer talked ‘too tough’ over Russia, claims TrumpFormer prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was “too tough” in his rhetoric towards Russia, President Donald Trump has claimed amid ongoing tensions between the Kremlin and allies of Ukraine.
Mr Trump also suggested recent warnings by European countries about the threat posed by Vladimir Putin were “too nasty”.
French president Emmanuel Macron said, last week, he had asked his government to draw up plans to safeguard critical infrastructure, including sensitive defence industry sites, against drone attacks and cyber attacks in the face of what he described as an intensifying Russian hybrid threat.
James Reynolds23 September 2026 15:20
Russian military helicopter entered Polish airspace briefly, Polish army saysA Russian military Mi-8 helicopter made a brief incursion into Polish airspace from Kaliningrad, the Polish Army Operational Command said on Wednesday.
James Reynolds23 September 2026 14:44
