The Romanian defence ministry scrambled two F-16 fighter jets on Sunday after detecting a drone breaching the country's airspace, just days after Poland confirmed it detected a Russian drone incursion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone breached about 10 kilometers into Romanian territory and operated in NATO airspace for around 50 minutes.
He warned that the incident was “an obvious expansion” of Russia’s war beyond Ukraine’s borders, and once again called for tougher sanctions against Moscow.
"Romania condemns Russia's behaviour and takes the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security," Romanian foreign minister Toiu Oana wrote on X.
Romania’s move comes after Nato announced plans to beef up the defence of Europe's eastern flank, and the US has vowed to defend "every inch” of its ally as Russian drones breached Polish airspace last week.
The US has joined other Nato countries to express concern about Russian drones entering Poland, accusing Moscow of violating international law and the founding UN Charter.
But on Saturday Donald Trump said he would only introduce new sanctions if Nato countries stopped using Russian oil.
Key Points
- Romania scrambles jets after another drone incursion
- Trump wants Nato to impose "50% to 100%" tariffs on China
- Russian drone spotted near Romanian village
- More information emerges connecting drones entering Poland to Russia
- Poland deploys planes after threat of drone strikes
Ukraine posts image of refinery strike
12:45 , Sam RkainaAccording to Ukraine's general staff, explosions and a fire were reported at the Kirishi refinery. It posted a photo appearing to show a blaze and clouds of smoke against a night sky.
Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said three drones were downed overnight in the Kirishi area, with falling debris sparking a fire at the facility. He said no-one was injured, and the blaze was put out.
Russia remains the world's second largest oil exporter, but a seasonal rise in demand and sustained Ukrainian drone strikes have caused shortages in recent weeks.
Fuel stations have run dry in some regions of the country, with motorists waiting in long queues and officials resorting to rationing or cutting off sales altogether.
To try to ease the shortage, Russia has paused fuel exports, with officials on Wednesday declaring a full ban until September 30 and a partial ban affecting traders and intermediaries until October 31.
⚡️У ніч на 14 вересня 2025 року підрозділи Сил безпілотних систем та Сил спеціальних операцій Збройних Сил України, у взаємодії з іншими складовими Сил оборони України, завдали удару по Кірішському нафтопереробному заводу у Ленінградській області. pic.twitter.com/uKhLRuVf9r
— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) September 14, 2025
Ukraine drones hit one of Russia's largest oil refineries
12:12 , Sam RkainaUkrainian drones have struck one of Russia's largest oil refineries, sparking a fire, according to Russian officials and Ukraine's military.
The strike on the Kirishi refinery, in Russia's north-western Leningrad region, follows weeks of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure that Kyiv says fuels Moscow's war effort.
The facility, operated by Russian oil major Surgutneftegas, produces close to 355,000 barrels per day of crude.
More than three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones have emerged as a key weapon for both sides.
Multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday, prompting Nato to send fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining long-held concerns that the fighting might spill over beyond Ukraine's borders.
Latest drone incursion is 'obvious expansion' of Russia's war
11:02 , Sam RkainaUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian the drone breached about 10 kilometers into Romanian territory and operated in NATO airspace for around 50 minutes.
“It is an obvious expansion of the war by Russia, and this is exactly how they act," he said. “Sanctions against Russia are needed. Tariffs against Russian trade are needed. Collective defense is needed.”
NATO announced plans to beef up the defense of Europe's eastern flank on Friday, after Poland shot down drones that had violated its airspace, the first known shots fired by a member of the Western alliance during Russia's war in Ukraine.
Romanian lawmakers approved a law earlier this year enabling the army to shoot down drones illegally breaching Romanian airspace during peacetime, based on threat levels and risks to human life and property, but the bill does not yet have all enforcement rules approved.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard wrote on platform X that the airspace breach was “another unacceptable violation of NATO airspace.”
“Sweden stands in full solidarity with Romania as a NATO Ally and EU Member State. We are always ready to contribute further to the deterrence and defence of the Alliance.”
Ukraine considers limiting mobile service to counter Russian drones
10:48 , Sam RkainaUkraine may intentionally reduce the quality of mobile communications during Russian drone attacks to stop the networks being used to coordinate strikes, Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Three and a half years into the war, Russia has ramped up drone attacks on Ukraine in recent months, enhancing its technology and increasing the number of drones deployed to maximise damage to strategic targets and key infrastructure.
"This is not a disruption of mobile communications, but rather a restriction on the quality of communications in certain areas, like a restriction on 4G and 5G communication," Hnatov told Ukrainian online video channel Novyny Live.
"So that the modems they use on their unmanned aerial vehicles cannot access the internet of our communications operators," he added.
Shutting down high-speed mobile internet makes sense in order to combat drones equipped with cameras that transmit images and require a 4G connection to operate, according to reports by local media.
Russia has frequently ordered mobile internet shutdowns to disrupt Ukrainian drone attacks during the war.
Russian drone spotted near Romanian village
08:20 , Vishwam SankaranThe Russian drone that reportedly made an incursion into Romanian airspace was spotted near the village of Chilia Veche, according to the Nato country’s defence ministry.
Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets after detecting a drone breaching the country's airspace.
The F-16 jets tracked the drone until it "dropped off the radar 20 km southwest of the village of Chilia Veche", the ministry said in a statement.
Russia test fires Putin's 'invincible' missile in Barents sea
07:56 , Vishwam SankaranRussia has test-fired its Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile at a target in the Barents Sea off Norway's coast, the country's defence ministry said.
The thermonuclear-capable missile, which Putin calls an "invincible" weapon, can cover a range of over 1,000 km and target both enemy ships and ground targets.
When the missile was fired for the first time last year, Putin said it carries over Mach 8 speed and was part of Russia's new generation of unrivalled arms systems.
Trump wants Nato to impose "50% to 100%" tariffs on China
07:00 , Vishwam SankaranTrump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that Nato allies placing a 50 per cent to 100 per cent tariff on China till Russia's invasion of Ukraine ends "will be of great help in ending this deadly, but ridiculous war".
"China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip," the US president said.
"If Nato does as I say, the war will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the US," Trump wrote.
Russia continues to increase military presence in Belarus
06:41 , Vishwam SankaranRussia and Belarus continued their joint military exercises yesterday, with parts of the Russian Northern Fleet, Baltic Fleet, Moscow Military District, and Aerospace Forces participating in ground, sea, and air defence drills.
The troops practised tactical techniques to "minimise the risk of detection by an adversary, defensive engineering techniques, drone aerial reconnaissance, and defending hazardous chemical facilities", according to ISW.
They reportedly conducted the exercises at the 227th Combined Arms Training Ground in Barysaw, Minsk Oblast and the Lesishche Training Ground in Minsk Oblast.
The drills are part of plans to integrate Belarus into Russian-favourable frameworks, the ISW noted.
Romania scrambles jets after another drone incursion
06:06 , Vishwam SankaranRomania scrambled two F-16 fighter jets after detecting a drone breaching the country's airspace days after Poland confirmed it had shot down Russian drones in its airspace.
The Romanian defence ministry said it detected a drone breaching the country's airspace during a Russian attack on Ukrainian infrastructure.
The F-16 jets tracked the drone until it "dropped off the radar 20 km southwest of the village of Chilia Veche", the ministry said in a statement.
Romania, which is a NATO and EU member, shares a 650 km (400-mile) border with Ukraine and has frequently reported Russian drone fragments landing in its territory.
"Romania condemns Russia's behaviour and takes the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security," Romanian foreign minister Toiu Oana wrote on X.
Ukrainian drone 'strikes Russian chemical plant'
05:30 , Vishwam SankaranAn Ukrainian drone has reportedly hit the Metafrax Chemicals plant in Russia's Perm Krai, about 1,800 km (1,118 miles) from the Russian-Ukrainian border.
The drone hit an industrial center in the city of Gubakha, according to Russian opposition news channel Astra.
No casualties have so far been reported, and the enterprise continues to operate normally, according to the region's governor Dmitry Makhonin.
Zelensky calls for tougher US sanctions against Moscow
05:13 , Vishwam SankaranUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the US to impose tougher sanctions and trade restrictions against Moscow's energy sector and other critical exports.
"We are counting on strong steps from the United States, in cooperation with others – strong sanctions and tariff policies – which will serve as an argument for many around the world," the Ukrainian president said yesterday.
“Everyone sees that the Russian drones attacking Poland are also Putin’s war. And this is a warning not only to Poland but to all of Europe. Russian drones can travel much greater distances," Zelensky said.
EU mulling transfer of billions in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine
05:00 , Vishwam SankaranThe European Union is reportedly considering a plan to fund Ukraine by replacing billions of euros from frozen Russian assets to EU-backed bonds.
Around 210 bn euros ($245.85 bn) of assets in Moscow's central ban have been frozen across the West since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
A majority of these seized funds are held by Brussels-based clearing house Euroclear.
The new risky plan would allow Brussels to provide capital for Ukraine without actually seizing Russian assets, Politico reported.
While there's no formal agreement on the plan, officials are reportedly viewing it with cautious optimism.
Russian troops use underground gas pipeline to advance behind Ukrainian forces
04:45 , Vishwam SankaranFor the third time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Moscow's troops have traversed via underground gas pipelines to advance behind Kyiv's forces.
The recent use of this tactic again indicates that Russia is improving their ability to disseminate tactical lessons between troops on the front line, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War.
Ukrainian intelligence reportedly found that Russian troops entered a gas pipeline in the forested area of Lyman Pershyi in the northeast of Kupyansk city, and travelled through the pipe for an estimated four days in electric scooters and modified wheeled stretchers to exit the pipe near Radkivka village.
Russia continues to deflect responsibility for Polish drone incursion
04:30 , Vishwam SankaranRussia's UN representative Vasily Nebenzya claimed on Friday that Poland “hastened to place the blame on Russia without presenting any evidence linking Russia to the incident".
He denied that the drones which breached Poland's airspace were of Russian origin, claiming that the range of the found drones does not exceed 700km.
Nebenzya shifted blame onto the West and European countries of using the Russian incursion into Polish airspace to spread “an information campaign” for guaranteeing new arms deliveries for Ukraine.
The Russian foreign affairs ministry also “refuted the speculations...about plans to attack one of the NATO countries”, adding that such statements could lead to “an inevitable escalation".
More information emerges connecting drones entering Poland to Russia
04:15 , Vishwam SankaranAn image of one of the drones entering Polish airspace on 10 September published by Sky News that was analysed the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi shows that the drone was equipped with an Iranian-made Tallysman satellite navigation antenna.
The antenna components found from the picture indicate the drones were not likely to have flown off course due to signal jamming.
"It is extremely unlikely that such a concentrated number of drones could have violated Polish airspace accidentally or due to technical or operator error," the Institute for the Study of War wrote in an analysis.
"ISW has observed other evidence refuting Russian and Belarusian denials, including evidence that the drones had fuel tanks that increased their range to as far as 900km," it said.
Unclear whether Russia's Poland drone incursion was deliberate, Rubio says
04:00 , Vishwam SankaranUS secretary of state Marco Rubio said yesterday it was unclear whether Russia's recent drone incursion into Poland's airspace was deliberate.
"I think it'll take a few more days for everybody to fully — the drones were intentionally launched. There's no doubt about the drones were intentionally launched. The question is whether the drones were targeted to go into Poland specifically," Mr Rubio told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
"We think it's an unacceptable and unfortunate and dangerous development," he said.
On 10 September, 19 drones were intercepted crossing into Poland from Russia, which Polish officials deem a deliberate violation of its airspace.
US president Donald Trump has, however, said the incursion "could have been a mistake", while European leaders were quick to condemn the airspace breach.
"We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it," Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said.
Ukraine 'world leaders' in drone tech, US envoy says
03:44 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine is a world leader in drone technology, surpassing the US, according to US envoy Keith Kellogg.
Comparing Ukraine's drone technology development to the US, Mr Kellogg said the US is "well behind".
"Ukraine seems now to be a world leader in defence technology. It's, in itself, a pretty good argument for making it a member of the European Union," he said.
"I think we in the United States are behind ... I think a lot of nations are behind, and I think to the credit of the Ukrainians, they picked up on that, and they're the world leaders in it. We are fast running out of time," the US envoy said yesterday at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kyiv.
Poland deploys planes after threat of drone strikes
03:00 , Alex RossPolish and allied aircraft were deployed in a "preventive" operation in Poland's airspace Saturday because of a threat of drone strikes in neighboring areas of Ukraine, and the airport in the eastern Polish city of Lublin was closed, authorities said.
The alert came after multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday, prompting NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining long-held concerns aboutthe expansion of Russia's more than three-year war in Ukraine.
The Polish military's operational command posted on X on Saturday afternoon that ground-based air defence and reconnaissance systems were on high alert.
It stressed that "these actions are preventive in nature," and were aimed at securing Poland's airspace and protecting the country's citizens.
Drone breaches Romanian airspace during Russian attack, claims defence ministry
01:00 , Alex RossRomania scrambled fighter jets when a drone breached the country's airspace during a Russian attack on Ukrainian infrastructure near the border, the defence ministry said.
Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said the F-16 pilots came close to taking down the drone as it was flying very low before it left national airspace toward Ukraine.
A threat of drone strikes also prompted Poland to deploy aircraft and close an airport in the eastern city of Lublin on Saturday, three days after it shot down Russian drones in its airspace with the backing of aircraft from its NATO allies.
Romania, a European Union and NATO state which shares a 650-km (400-mile) border with Ukraine, has had Russian drone fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly since Russia began waging war on its neighbour.
Ukraine warns of need for money to keep war effort going
Saturday 13 September 2025 21:00 , Sam RkainaWhile no details of additional funding sources have been specified, Ukrainian government officials have appealed to allies to find ways to use Russian frozen assets to help Kyiv's finances.
The war with Russia has heated up in recent months, with fierce fighting raging along more than 1,000 km of the frontline and Russian troops ramping up their air attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns far behind it.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have brought no tangible results as yet.
This week, tensions reached a new level as NATO fighter jets scrambled to shoot down multiple Russian drones that violated Polish airspace on Wednesday.
“Until any diplomatic solution is reached, we will need to keep fighting. And to keep fighting, we need money. And defence has an enormous financial cost,” head of the parliamentary budget committee Pidlasa said.
Ukraine needs 'at least $120 billion' for 2026
Saturday 13 September 2025 20:01 , Sam RkainaUkraine will need at least $120 billion for its defence in 2026 as the war with Russia drags on into its fourth year, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Saturday.
Shmyhal said the funding was essential to maintain defence lines, produce more drones and other weapons, protect skies, and deter any further Russian aggression.
“The economy of the war demonstrates that if we spend less money than Russia, then we begin paying with our territories and, most importantly, with our lives,” Shmyhal told an annual conference in Kyiv.
Ukraine's defence spending shot up following Russia's invasion in February 2022, and it now spends more than 31% of its gross domestic product on its army. This year's state budget plans at least $63 billion in defence spending, plus in-kind weapons from Kyiv's Western allies.
Roksolana Pidlasa, the head of the parliamentary budget committee, said that the costs of the war kept rising.
She said that in 2025, a day of the war cost $172 million compared with about $140 million in 2024.
That included soldiers' wages, weapons, and payments to those injured or killed on the battlefield, she said. "So we need to fundraise all the needed sources, all the needed money."
Actor Sean Penn says he was ‘conned’ by Putin in first meeting
Saturday 13 September 2025 19:00 , Sam RkainaSean Penn has reflected on his first time meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin following the premiere of his 2001 movie, The Pledge.
Penn, 65, a prominent supporter of Ukraine, dined with Putin and the film’s star, Jack Nicholson, after the thriller-mystery’s opening at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Recalling their conversation during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, the Oscar-winning father of two said: “We talked about fatherhood.”
Penn remembered their dinner was “approximately two to three weeks after then-President George Bush said, ‘I looked into [Putin’s] eyes and I felt like I could trust him.’”
“And when I say that, I have to say I was conned also,” the Milk actor added. “I felt that there was something genuine there. Now, we know that he is very willing to kidnap 30,000 kids, murder a lot of people, and teach those kids to hate their parents and their country. And yet, our country isn’t together enough to realize we should give them the resources to defeat him.”
Recap of Harry's flying visit to Ukraine
Saturday 13 September 2025 18:15 , Sam RkainaPrince Harry visited Ukraine on Friday, arriving in Kyiv with a team from his Invictus Games Foundation to outline his charity's plans to help rehabilitate wounded soldiers.
Harry also visited the site of one of Russia's numerous strikes on the capital, the head of Kyiv's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, said.
"Completely destroyed homes speak a universal language. Our pain also needs no translation," Tkachenko wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "We are grateful to Prince Harry for his attention to our pain and for his heartfelt compassion."
It was Harry's second visit to Ukraine this year, after he visited a centre for wounded military personnel in Lviv in April.
Harry was invited to Kyiv by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Olga Rudneva, head of the Superhumans rehabilitation centre, his office said.
He also met privately with Veterans Affairs Minister Natalia Kalmykova and the prime minister, and later laid a wreath at Maidan Square, his office added.
"We cannot stop the war, but what we can do is do everything we can to help the recovery process," Harry told the Guardian on an overnight train to Kyiv, adding that he received permission from the British government and his wife before travelling.
Polish military training surges amid Russian fears
Saturday 13 September 2025 17:30 , Sam RkainaMore than 20,000 Poles signed up for voluntary military training in the first seven months of 2025 - in line with record levels last year, according to Colonel Grzegorz Wawrzynkiewicz, the head of Poland's Central Military Recruitment Centre.
He expects around 40,000 volunteers to complete military training by the end of this year, more than double the 16,000 in 2022, reflecting a surge in public engagement since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Since the start of the war in 2022, Poland has more than doubled its defence spending from 2.2% of economic output to 4.7% this year - the highest ratio of military spending in the 32-nation NATO alliance, well ahead of more established European powers like Germany, France and Britain.
The return to the White House of Donald Trump - who has cast doubt on his willingness to defend NATO allies - has reignited European fears over the reliability of U.S. security commitments. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who grew up under Communist rule, has been at the forefront of urging Europe's leaders to take more responsibility for its defence.
"Countries that have no memory of a Russian occupation or Soviet occupation, for them it's harder to imagine ...what the thing is you're fighting for," said Gustav Gressel, an expert on Russia and defense policy, and researcher at the National Defence Academy in Vienna.
Poland deploys planes over drone strikes threat
Saturday 13 September 2025 16:34 , Sam RkainaPolish and allied aircraft were deployed in a "preventive" operation in Poland's airspace Saturday because of a threat of drone strikes in neighboring areas of Ukraine, and the airport in the eastern Polish city of Lublin was closed, authorities said.
The alert came after multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland on Wednesday, prompting NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down and underlining long-held concerns about the expansion of Russia's more than three-year war in Ukraine.
The Polish military's operational command posted on X on Saturday afternoon that ground-based air defense and reconnaissance systems were on high alert.
It stressed that "these actions are preventive in nature," and were aimed at securing Poland's airspace and protecting the country's citizens. It cited a threat of drone strikes in regions of Ukraine bordering Poland, but didn't immediately give further details.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also posted that "preventive air operations" had begun in Polish airspace because of the threat posed by Russian drones operating over nearby areas of Ukraine.
Trump's muted response to Poland incursion raises concerns
Saturday 13 September 2025 14:25 , Sam RkainaThe swarm of nearly 20 drones across Polish borders this week triggered deep anxiety among NATO members who, for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, fired on a Russian target, violating the alliance's airspace.
Just as worrisome, said European diplomats, has been U.S. President Donald Trump's refusal so far to publicly hold Moscow accountable for Wednesday's incident, coupled with the lack of U.S. participation in fending it off.
Many alliance members already question Trump's commitment to their defense in the event of an actual Russian attack.
Trump’s muted response was widely seen as another example of his’America First’ push for European allies to take more responsibility for their own security and shoulder the cost of helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
But some analysts said Trump also could be wary of antagonizing Russian President Vladimir Putin, who they say may be testing both NATO’s military capabilities and U.S. resolve more than three and a half years after Moscow invaded Ukraine.
“This episode underscores that Trump, in contrast to every president since Roosevelt, does not see Europe’s security is fundamental to American security,” said Ivo Daalder, the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013, who is now a senior fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center.
The White House did not reply directly to questions about Trump's response.
Russia jets with hypersonic missiles take part in military exercises
Saturday 13 September 2025 13:51 , Sam RkainaRussians MiG-31 fighter jets equipped with hypersonic ballistic missiles completed a four-hour flight over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea as part of ongoing 'Zapad 2025' military exercises, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday.
Russia and Belarus began the joint drills on Friday during a tense moment in the Russia-Ukraine war, days after Poland shot down suspected Russian drones over its airspace.
The Kinzhal, which means "dagger" in Russian, is an air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads.
Russia has previously used the weapons against Ukraine.
G7 finance ministers discuss possible sanctions on supporters of Russia's war
Saturday 13 September 2025 13:01 , Athena StavrouG7 finance ministers discussed imposing sanctions and tariffs on countries that they consider to be "enabling" Russia's war in Ukraine on Friday.
The G7 finance ministers held the meeting to discuss further measures to increase pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine, according to a statement released by the Canadian finance ministry.
They "discussed a wide range of possible economic measures to increase pressure on Russia, including further sanctions and trade measures, such as tariffs, on those enabling Russia’s war effort."
Trump says his patience with Putin is 'running out fast'
Saturday 13 September 2025 12:34 , Athena StavrouOn Friday, Donald Trump has said that his patience with Vladimir Putin is “running out fast”, days after Russian drones breached Polish airspace in an act of provocation.
Speaking to Fox News, the US president said: “It's sort of running out and running out fast.“
Trump has given Putin several deadlines to take steps to end the three-year conflict, but so far has not imposed sanctions or other penalties on Moscow.
Trump says he is ready to impose major sanctions on Russia - on one condition
Saturday 13 September 2025 12:33 , Sam RkainaDonald Trump has posted a lengthy statement about his position on the Ukraine war, on his Truth Social account.
In it he says he is ready to impose major sanctions on Russia - provided Nato countries stop buying Moscow’s oi.
The post read: “A LETTER SENT BY PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP TO ALL NATO NATIONS AND, THE WORLD: “I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA.
“As you know, NATO’S commitment to WIN has been far less than 100%, and the purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia. Anyway, I am ready to “go” when you are. Just say when?
“I believe that this, plus NATO, as a group, placing 50% to 100% TARIFFS ON CHINA, to be fully withdrawn after the WAR with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.
“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip. This is not TRUMP’S WAR (it would never have started if I was President!), it is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s WAR. I am only here to help stop it, and save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives (7,118 lives lost last week, alone. CRAZY!).
“If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Prince Harry discusses Invictus Games with Ukrainian PM
Saturday 13 September 2025 11:58 , Athena StavrouUkraine’s prime minister has said it is the country’s “dream” to host the Invictus Games, after meeting Prince Harry.
In a Telegram post, Yulia Svyrydenkon said she and the Duke of Sussex spoke about work on the rehabilitation and recovery of veterans.
“I thanked the prince for his support of our Ukrainian military after service at various venues, including the Invictus Games,” she wrote.
“This year, Ukraine was represented at the Games by a record-breaking team of 35 participants.
“Now our dream is for the Invictus Games to come to Ukraine. We have every opportunity to do this.
“Moreover, invincibility is a synonym for the Ukrainian spirit. And our defenders demonstrate it every day.”
Watch: Orthodox nun stripped of status for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Saturday 13 September 2025 11:21 , Athena StavrouIn focus: If Europe was at war, who would be called up first and how would they be trained to fight?
Saturday 13 September 2025 10:45 , Athena StavrouThe events in Poland this week have reminded us that Europe is not immune to war. For Britain, the question is whether its people are ready – and if not, how quickly they could be trained.
Guy Walters looks at the MoD scheme that fast-tracks Ukrainian civilians into soldiers, and asks if it could work for the UK, too:
If Europe was at war, who would be called up first and how would they be trained?
Pictured: Prince Harry meets Ukrainian PM
Saturday 13 September 2025 10:01 , Athena Stavrou
Robodogs, laser beams and drone-zapping microwaves: The weapons that could decide the wars of the future
Saturday 13 September 2025 09:34 , Athena StavrouAs wars are increasingly fought with the use of unmanned drones piloted from miles away, Taz Ali looks at what other weapons will shape the conflicts to come:
Robodogs and drone-zapping microwaves: Weapons that could decide wars of the future
Pictured: Yvette Cooper visits Ukraine
Saturday 13 September 2025 09:11 , Athena Stavrou
Prince Harry meets Ukrainian prime minister
Saturday 13 September 2025 08:46 , Athena StavrouPrince Harry met with Ukraine’s prime minister during his surprise visit to the country this week.
Yulia Svyrydenkon shared pictures of the meeting as she and the Duke of Sussex visited damaged premises of the Ukrainian government building in Kyiv.
Three die in Ukraine's Sumy region
Saturday 13 September 2025 08:12 , Athena StavrouAn early morning Russian attack killed three people on Friday in northern Ukraine's Sumy region, a regional official reported.
Sumy Regional Governor Oleh Hryhory said a 6 am drone and missile attack killed three residents in or near Sumy and injured five.
But Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian operation in the region "has been completely foiled by our forces."
Russian forces have tried in recent months to gain a foothold in areas like Sumy, a border region next to Russia's Kursk region.
They have captured a string of villages near the border and subject larger towns, like the city of Sumy, to frequent shelling.
Zelenskiy has reported successes in other operations in Sumy in recent weeks. He said Kyiv's forces were also actively repelling Russian troops in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, the two main areas on the front line.
‘There is light at the end of the tunnel’, Harry says on surprise Ukraine trip
Saturday 13 September 2025 07:47 , Athena StavrouThe Duke of Sussex has said there is “light at the end of the tunnel” as he visited ex-service personnel during a surprise trip to Ukraine.
Harry travelled to Kyiv with a team from his Invictus Games Foundation following an invitation from the Ukrainian government and Olga Rudneva, chief executive of the Superhumans Centre, an orthopaedic clinic and rehabilitation centre for adults and children affected by the war in Ukraine.
His trip comes after spending several days in the UK, where he reunited with his father the King for their first face-to-face meeting for more than a year.
Asked about advice for those leaving military service and who may miss the camaraderie, Harry said: “You will feel lost at times, like you lack purpose, but however dark those days are, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
What is the new Nato mission?
Saturday 13 September 2025 07:32 , Athena StavrouA number of Nato allies have agreed to join a new mission to beef up the defence of Europe's eastern flank.
A new deterrence initiative called "Eastern Sentry" is to be launched in response to Russia's drone attack.
Nato’s top military official, Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich, a US Air Force general, said it was a flexible operation to bolster defences along Nato’s entire eastern flank, which stretches from the Baltic states in the north to Romania and Bulgaria in the south.
The mission, which began on Friday evening, will involve a range of assets integrating air and ground bases.
Nato already has substantial forces in eastern Europe, including thousands of troops and it did not specify how many additional troops would be involved in the new operation.
Allies including Denmark, France, Britain, and Germany have committed to the mission with others set to join.
The announcement detailed a modest number of additional military assets - including two F-16 fighter jets and a frigate from Denmark, three Rafale fighter jets from France, and four Eurofighter jets from Germany.
Spain said it would provide air assets and Britain said it would detail its contribution soon.
'What affects one ally affects us all,' says Nato chief
Saturday 13 September 2025 06:42 , Vishwam SankaranAfter announcing the beefing up of Nato's eastern flank, the military alliance's chief Mark Rutte said the focus of the immediate new operation is Poland as “what affects one Ally affects us all".
He said the situation in Poland due to Russia's drone incursions two days ago "transcends the borders of one nation”.
The alliance's chief said the aim of the operation is to integrate air and ground-based defences, increase information sharing among Nato allies, incorporate unspecified enhanced capabilities, and strengthen Nato's posturing to protect the alliance.
