Russia has sent a letter to Nato threatening to use nuclear weapons if it feels its Baltic territory of Kaliningrad is under threat.
Despite a growing campaign of Russian hybrid attacks on Ukraine's European neighbours and allies, Moscow said it was Nato exhibiting "dangerous and reckless" behaviour that entailed "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict".
The letter said Russia "will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory".
Nato said it had responded to Moscow directly, calling on Vladimir Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine and noting “that Nato is a defensive alliance”. “We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,” a spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Russia plans to raise its defence spending to more than £150bn next year to bolster its war on Ukraine, according to a draft budget due to be submitted to parliament tomorrow.
And in Kyiv, overnight strikes by Russia killed at least four people and targeted energy infrastructure and data centres. The strikes, described as massive by the Russian defence ministry, saw Poland scramble fighter jets and briefly close two airports.
Key Points
- One child among four killed in Russia’s major overnight assault on Kyiv and surrounding region
- Russia pounds the Kyiv region, killing 4 and targeting the power grid
- ICYMI: Moscow threatens nuclear strikes if Nato moves to blockade Kaliningrad
- South Korea says Zelensky's revelation of a secret POW transfer was likely a play for more support
- Kanye West’s Russia concerts cancelled, organisers confirm
Child among 5 killed in 'massive' overnight Russian attack, Ukrainian PM says
08:55 , Rituparna Chatterjee
At least five people have been killed in Ukraine in “massive” overnight Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, the Ukrainian prime minister said.
“Overnight, missiles and drones hit energy facilities in Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and other parts of the country. Since summer, there's barely been a day without an attack on our energy infrastructure. But a combined strike of this scale hasn't happened since the end of last heating season,” said Sergii Koretskyi on X.
In total, 11 regions had come under Russian attack since last evening, he said.
“As of now, 14 people are known to be injured nationwide. Tragically, 5 people were killed, including a child,” he said.
Ukraine preparing fourth phase of Operation Vivaldi
08:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Ukraine is preparing a fourth phase of Operation Vivaldi, its counteroffensive in the Lyman area of Donetsk, president Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday after visiting the front.
Zelensky said the first three phases had resulted in more than 5,000 Russian casualties and the capture of 250 Russian soldiers. Ukrainian forces have also retaken 176 square kilometres of territory and halted Russia’s push towards the rear of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
“Ukraine’s Defence Forces have thwarted Russia’s plans to break through the rear of the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk” region, Zelensky said, adding that the situation had been stabilised there.
“Replacing our soldiers with ground robotic systems whenever possible is a highly promising area at present.” He added that “during Operation Vivaldi, this element made it possible to accomplish a great deal”.
The operation is focused on pushing back Russian forces, disrupting their infiltration routes and cutting supply lines in the Donetsk region, which remains central to Russia’s war aims.
Moldova reports three incidents of drones entering its airspace
07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Moldova reported three separate incidents of drones or unidentified aerial objects entering its airspace yesterday, as Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine.
A drone entered Moldovan airspace at about 5.43am local time, crashed near Hirbovat in Anenii Noi district and exploded. No injuries were reported.
A second drone was detected over Lunga village in the Russian-occupied Transnistria region at about 10.26am, prompting Moldova to close airspace in its northern and central regions.
Later in the evening, another unidentified object entered from Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region and flew over Transnistria before disappearing from monitoring systems.
Romania also scrambled two Spanish F-18 jets after detecting an aerial target near Izmail, although the object did not enter Romanian airspace.
Ukraine said Russia had launched 188 drones and several missiles during the attack.
Emergency power cuts return to Kyiv after Russian strikes
06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Emergency power cuts returned to Kyiv yesterday after a Russian attack damaged the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine’s state-owned power producer Centrenergo confirmed.
The company said generating equipment at the plant had been damaged but did not provide further details, citing security concerns.
Centrenergo CEO Serhii Isachenko said the immediate priority was to assess the damage and determine what repairs were needed. He said specialists would begin work once the security situation allowed, The Kyiv Independent reported.
Ukrenergo announced emergency electricity shutdowns in Kyiv at about 5.40pm local time as the attack disrupted the capital’s power supply.
The outages also affected public transport. Electric ground transport was suspended in the Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi districts, while tram services were also halted, according to authorities.
One child among four killed in Russia’s major overnight assault on Kyiv and surrounding region
05:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Russia launched a major assault on Kyiv and the surrounding region yesterday, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as the country heads into winter.
The attacks killed three people and injured seven in Kyiv, while one child was killed and a woman injured in the surrounding Kyiv region.
A key thermal power plant in Kyiv and other energy facilities were damaged, triggering emergency power cuts, authorities said.
DTEK said it had restored electricity to 8,000 customers on Kyiv’s left bank, while state grid operator Ukrenergo reported outages in several areas and urged people to limit their use of high-power appliances.
Kyiv remained under air-raid alerts for more than 20 hours, among the longest sustained periods since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky said the capital’s energy infrastructure was the main target and called for stronger air defences ahead of winter.
Kanye West’s Russia concerts cancelled, organisers confirm
04:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar
Two concerts by US rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, in St Petersburg, Russia, have been cancelled, organisers said on 30 September.
Ye was due to perform on 10 and 11 October.
The shows were expected to be his first major concerts in Russia and would have made him the biggest Western artist to perform there since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russian event agency Say Agency said in a statement: “Ye’s concerts in St Petersburg will not be able to take place on the scheduled dates.”
It said more details would be provided in a later statement and that ticket holders would receive refunds.
ICYMI: Moscow threatens nuclear strikes if NATO moves to blockade Kaliningrad
03:00 , Suha Kidwai
Russia has delivered a formal warning to NATO, threatening to deploy nuclear weapons if tit attempts to isolate or blockade its militarised Baltic exclave, Kaliningrad.
In a diplomatic note sent to Brussels, Moscow warned it will use "the entire arsenal of forces at its disposal, including nuclear weapons" and conduct "strikes against decision-making centres in member states" if NATO tries to sever Kaliningrad from mainland Russia.
The threat follows a secret NATO exercise in mid-August that simulated jamming the exclave's air defences and communications. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the note a necessary warning to "hotheads in Europe."
NATO has responded, dismissing the threat as "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric" and declaring that no alliance activities pose a threat to Russian territory.
Moscow summons Danish ambassador over Baltic Sea flare incident
02:00 , Suha Kidwai
The Kremlin has summoned Denmark’s ambassador to Moscow to lodge a formal protest over what it described as "provocative actions" by a Danish military helicopter toward a Russian Baltic Fleet warship.
The diplomatic rebuke follows an incident on September 14 in international waters off Denmark, where a Russian warship fired two signal flares toward a Danish helicopter conducting a routine photo reconnaissance overflight.
Denmark has previously summoned the Russian ambassador over the encounter, with Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen calling the firing of flares "completely unacceptable."
Moscow has defended its crew's actions, claiming the helicopter approached the vessel without responding to radio calls and that the commander fired the warning flares to prevent a dangerous approach.
Civil defense system 'completely failed', warns Ukrainian human rights chief
01:00 , Suha Kidwai
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has warned that a critical shortage of urban bomb shelters has left Kyiv’s civilians dangerously exposed ahead of an expected Russian winter bombing campaign.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Lubinets asserted that the public shelter network in major cities like Kyiv has "completely failed" to scale up to meet population demands.
He said: "Five years into the war, Kyiv's civil defense system has completely collapsed. The number of shelters is insufficient to accommodate the entire population of the capital, and there are no mobile shelters at all. .. Where are the mobile shelters that are needed here and now? Where are the improvements to the existing ones?"
The warning comes as Ukrainian authorities work to fortify power grids and diversify energy generation ahead of winter strikes.
In pictures: Zelensky's visit to the frontline
Thursday 1 October 2026 00:00 , Suha Kidwai
Zelensky hails gains in 'Operation Vivaldi'
Wednesday 30 September 2026 23:00 , Suha Kidwai
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has visited a military command post near Lyman in eastern Ukraine, praising frontline forces for reclaiming territory during a counteroffensive operation in the Donbas.
In a video posted to Telegram on Wednesday, the leader conferred with commanders, reviewing maps and handing out state awards near the strategic railway hub.
Zelensky said the operation, codenamed "Vivaldi", prevented a major Russian breakthrough toward the critical "fortress cities" of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, reporting that Ukrainian troops have recaptured 176 square kilometers of land in the sector since launching the counteroffensive earlier this year.
Vatican envoy holds talks in Moscow on POWs as Pope calls for peace
Wednesday 30 September 2026 22:00 , Suha Kidwai
Papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has met with Kremlin officials in Moscow to discuss prisoner swaps and humanitarian relief, as Pope Leo XIV urges Russia and Ukraine to negotiate an end to the four-year war.
The Russian foreign ministry has confirmed Zuppi met with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov to address prisoner exchanges, the repatriation of displaced children, and civilian supplies in the occupied Kherson town of Oleshky.
Zuppi was also granted access to Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia. While Moscow claimed the visit proved its compliance with humanitarian standards, Kyiv continues to accuse Russian forces of mistreating detainees and blocking humanitarian corridors.
The mission coincides with a fresh appeal from Pope Leo XIV, who warned against rising global tensions, condemning leaders "beginning to speak about nuclear weapons and wars that are becoming ever more destructive."
India warns of major ‘food crisis’ in coming months amid El Nino and global conflicts
Wednesday 30 September 2026 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
India's foreign minister S Jaishankar has warned that the world faces a "major food crisis" in the coming months, as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East compound the effects of a super El Nino.
Speaking at an event organised by the Asia Society in New York, Mr Jaishankar said the two conflicts had "a devastating impact" on the economies of the Global South, and that energy, food, fertiliser and finance were all under strain at once.
"If you have energy as a big crunch and then food and fertilisers on top of it, and finance, because every time there's a conflict, money moves towards safe harbours and away from the Global South, the net result of it has been really very, very stressful," he said.
India warns of major ‘food crisis’ in coming months amid El Nino and global conflicts
Watch: Zelensky says Russia plans to deploy 10,000 more North Korean troops
Wednesday 30 September 2026 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
South Korea says Zelenskyy's revelation of a secret POW transfer was likely a play for more support
Wednesday 30 September 2026 19:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
South Korea’s spy agency said Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 's recent revelation of a supposedly secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to the South was likely meant to generate public support in this Asian democracy for greater assistance to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s disclosure during his U.N. speech last week of the transfer of the captured soldiers has stunned South Korea and drawn strong protests. Seoul called on Kyiv to apologize and explain the violation of what it said was a nondisclosure agreement about the transfer. Ukraine denied agreeing to any such deal.
The fracas surrounding the revelation has shaken the traditionally good relations between Kyiv and Seoul but it's unclear if it would lead to something more dramatic.
South Korea says Zelenskyy's revelation of a secret POW transfer was likely a play for more support
Watch: Three children injured after Russian glide bombs strike Sumy school
Wednesday 30 September 2026 19:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Wednesday 30 September 2026 18:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he visited a military command post near the eastern frontline on Wednesday.
Zelensky said he met servicemen who are fighting around the town of Lyman in the Donetsk region, where Ukraine has recently recaptured territory from Russian forces.
How Putin is sowing chaos in Poland as Ukraine war spreads across Europe
Wednesday 30 September 2026 18:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
“We are receiving information that Russia is preparing something big this year,” Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York recently, after renewed intelligence warnings suggested a planned Russian drone attack in Europe.
“I believe that Putin needs a pretext for mobilisation, so they could carry out a false-flag attack and tell the Russian people: ‘We are under attack, and therefore we need to mobilise,’” he added.
Poland has spent years preparing for a possible confrontation with Russia and repeatedly warns its neighbours not to undermine the threat from the east.
How Putin is sowing chaos in Poland as Ukraine war spreads
Russia pounds the Kyiv region, killing 4 and targeting the power grid
Wednesday 30 September 2026 17:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Russia pressed on with its weekslong missile and drone barrage of Kyiv and areas around the Ukrainian capital, killing four people including a child while targeting the power grid and a key internet exchange point, officials said Wednesday.
Moscow’s steep escalation of its aerial campaign since the end of August heaps pressure on Ukraine as it braces for winter, when Russia regularly bombards energy facilities to deny Ukrainians heating and running water.
Ukrainian officials say Moscow is not engaging with U.S. efforts to halt the fighting, 4 ½ years after Russia invaded its neighbor. Moscow says it wants a comprehensive settlement rather than a temporary truce, although its demand for Ukraine to surrender land is unacceptable for Kyiv.
Russia pounds the Kyiv region, killing 4 and targeting the power grid
Russia says European arms factories supplying Ukraine are legitimate military targets
Wednesday 30 September 2026 17:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Factories in Europe producing arms for Ukraine are legitimate military targets for Russia, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
Zakharova told a press briefing that European countries were directly involved in the conflict through their military support for Ukraine, adding that such activity delayed a resolution to the war.
She was responding to a question about Poland's apparent readiness to host a factory producing Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine.
No imminent threat to Nato territory from Russia, Rutte says
Wednesday 30 September 2026 16:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Nato's Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday there was no imminent threat to Nato territory from Russia, in response to a warning issued by Moscow over the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The threat assessment regarding Russia was unchanged from three weeks, three months and a year ago, Rutte said, despite the warning sent to NATO by Moscow in a document seen by Reuters.
In the document, Russia said it would be ready to resort to nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to cut off the territory, which is on the Baltic Sea sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
Nato reacted with "a bit of calm", Rutte said. "Basically what we said is: 'Hey, listen, we are defensive alliance and stop the nuclear threat'," he said at an event held by Euronews in Brussels.
If Russia wanted to act against Finland, one of the Baltic nations, Poland or any other NATO country, it would be preceded by a military build-up, Rutte added.
He underlined the United States would stay involved in defending Europe by conventional and nuclear means.
Meanwhile Nato would continue what it was doing, namely supporting Ukraine and investing in its defence, he said.
He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no interest in negotiating to end the war in Ukraine.
"It takes two to tango," he said. "So far, it doesn't seem that Vladimir Putin is willing to tango when it comes to a peace deal."
Putin thinks he’s winning the Ukraine war – and I think he’s right, warns ex-Nato official
Wednesday 30 September 2026 16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
An ex-Nato official has urged Andy Burnham to “step up” the UK’s response to Russia as he warns Vladimir Putin is “winning” in Ukraine.
Since taking office, Mr Burnham has continued Sir Keir Starmer’s firm stance on Ukraine and pledged full support for the Kyiv government.
The prime minister has promised Britain is “100 per cent behind” Ukraine and travelled to Kyiv on his first foreign trip to mark the country’s independence day.
But John Lough, former Moscow-based Nato official and now head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre (Nest), said he’s “not sure that our esteemed leaders have got their mind around” Russia’s position in the ongoing war, and the consequences a victory for Putin could have on Britain.
Athena Stavrou reports:
Putin thinks he’s winning – and I think he’s right, warns ex-Nato official
Germany identifies air defence shortages as Ukraine's 'weakest point'
Wednesday 30 September 2026 16:00 , Namita Singh
Ukraine’s shortage of air defence missiles is currently its weakest point, the German Chancellor said on Tuesday, adding that Berlin is working with its partners to bolster Kyiv’s capabilities before winter sets in.
Friedrich Merz made the remarks during a briefing in Berlin, reported by DW.
Merz said he was raising the issue and trying to secure fresh supplies for Kyiv in discussions with multiple heads of state.
“At the moment, this is the weakest point. I hope that we will be able to prepare Ukraine for the upcoming winter, including in the field of energy supply,” he said.
Russia, he said, “will continue to bombard ruthlessly and destroy civilian infrastructure”.
“But we will not let ourselves be intimidated by this,” he continued. “We will continue to support Ukraine, because we know: Ukraine is part of Europe. If Ukraine falls, peace and freedom throughout Europe will be under threat.”
