Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russian president Vladimir Putin has instructed his generals to abandon the rules of war to capture more territory in Ukraine.
Russia has increasingly targeted Ukrainian cities, hitting key infrastructure that is keeping Ukraine’s war-battered economy afloat.
Recent targets have included key industries, railways, data centres, energy infrastructure, as well as schools and hospitals.
"He said there are no rules now,” the Ukrainian president said yesterday, citing intelligence from intercepted communications from Kremlin officials, the Financial Times reported.
Russian attacks on a key bridge over the Dnipro River over consecutive days have forced traffic chaos across it.
A drone struck the Souther Bridge at 5.40pm local time yesterday, coinciding with the Ukrainian capital city’s evening rush hour.
The attack led to long traffic jams across the city throughout the day.
Key Points
- Putin has told his generals 'there are no rules now' in Ukraine war, Zelensky says
- Russian strikes on Kyiv bridge causes traffic chaos
- Putin says he will use ‘all Russia’s weapons’ against Europe if attacked in chilling threat
- Four injured in Russian attacks on pharmaceutical warehouse in Kyiv oblast
- Embassies 'not planning evacuation' in Kyiv amid Russian strikes, Ukrainian foreign ministry says
Zelensky says Putin has told his generals 'there are no rules now' in Ukraine war
Friday 2 October 2026 09:01 , Adam Withnall
Volodymyr Zelensky says Russian president Vladimir Putin has instructed his generals to abandon the rules of war in pursuit of more territory in Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.
The Ukrainian president made the remarks during a visit to a bomb shelter inside a school that had been hit by a Russian drone on Thursday.
Zelensky said Putin gave the order last month, saying: "He said there are no rules now." Russia has since stepped up its air strikes on civilian targets, particularly in Kyiv, hitting data centres and energy infrastructure as well as schools and hospitals.
Russia still formally denies that it strikes civilian targets, and typically justifies its strikes as hitting military-linked buildings or infrastructure.
Zelensky cited intelligence from intercepted communications from Kremlin officials, the FT reported.
Russian strikes on Kyiv bridge causes traffic chaos
05:00 , Vishwam Sankaran
Russia struck a bridge over the Dnipro River that linked two sides of Kyiv, forcing full or partial traffic suspension across it.
A drone struck the Souther Bridge around 5.40pm local time yesterday, marking the second attack on the structure in two days.
Nearly 90 per cent of transit traffic between the two banks of the river passes through the Southern Bridge.
The latest attack also coincided with Kyiv's evening rush hour.
The Russian aerial attacks on the bridge are part of an intensifying campaign on infrastructure across Kyiv, disrupting daily life in the Ukrainian capital.
They have led to long traffic jams across the city throughout the day.
Four injured in Russian attacks on pharmaceutical warehouse in Kyiv oblast
06:00 , Vishwam Sankaran
At least four people are injured following Russian drone strikes at warehouses in Kyiv Oblast today.
The injured include an 8-year-old child, who suffered a shrapnel wound to the lower limb, according to Kyiv Oblast Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko.
One of the targeted sites was a warehouse of Ukraine's third-largest pharmaceutical distributor, Venta LTD.
First US critical minerals deal with Ukraine unveiled
04:30 , Vishwam Sankaran
The joint US–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) unveiled America's first-ever critical minerals deal with Ukrainian company BGV Group Management, valued at around $30 million.
It comes after Kyiv signed the so-called "minerals deal" with the US in April last year, establishing a joint investment fund in Ukraine that gives the US favourable access to mineral-related investment projects in Ukraine.
The project will see URIF develop a "joint investment platform" with the BGV Group, founded by Ukrainian billionaire Hennadii Butkevych.
It will "build a diverse portfolio of early-stage mining projects across Ukraine" with a focus on identifying rare earths, beryllium, and zirconium deposits, according to URIF.
Embassies 'not planning evacuation' in Kyiv amid Russian strikes, Ukrainian foreign ministry says
03:55 , Vishwam Sankaran
Ukraine's presidential office said it has not received notifications from any foreign embassy in Kyiv regarding an intent to evacuate the Ukrainian capital city.
"If any diplomatic missions are planning to relocate, they inform us; that is the established procedure," Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said today, adding that no such requests have been made.
His comments came after The Guardian reported, citing an unnamed diplomat, that the situation in Kyiv was "obviously deteriorating fast", and embassies could be planning to evacuate.
"As of now, the Foreign Ministry has not received any such requests or notifications from foreign diplomatic missions regarding plans to relocate," Tykhyi said.
EU says situation in Russian-occupied Oleshky is appalling
02:00 , Daniel Keane
Russia must provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky — currently occupied by Russia — as the situation there is "appalling", European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, whose portfolio includes humanitarian aid, said on Friday.
"What is happening in Oleshky, Ukraine, is appalling. Civilians are trapped under siege by Russian forces without access to food, medicine, clean water and basic care. This is unacceptable," said Lahbib.
"Russia, as occupying power, has clear obligations under international humanitarian law: civilians must be protected and humanitarian assistance must be facilitated," she added.
Watch: Vladimir Putin attends Russian military drills
01:00 , Daniel Keane
Pictured: Traffic clogs streets in Kyiv after Russian jet drone strikes bridges
Saturday 3 October 2026 00:01 , Daniel Keane
Former German chancellor with links to Putin joins board of Russian retailer
Friday 2 October 2026 23:00 , Daniel Keane
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who has faced criticism over his links to Russian business and President Vladimir Putin, has joined the supervisory board of Russian retailer Hyperglobus, the company said on Friday.
Schroeder formed a close relationship with Putin while serving as German chancellor from 1998 to 2005 and later working for Russian state companies.
Hyperglobus was spun off from Germany's Globus Holding in 2025 and is now fully independent, according to Globus. It operates more than 20 Russian supermarkets that continue to use the Globus brand.
The announcement of Schroeder's appointment came four days after Putin issued a decree placing the Russian assets of another big German retailer, Metro, under temporary administration – the latest in a series of moves against businesses from countries that have supported Ukraine against Russia in the war.
Putin says he will use ‘all Russia’s weapons’ against Europe if attacked in chilling threat
Friday 2 October 2026 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Vladimir Putin has said Russia will use all the weapons at their disposal in response to European aggression.
The Russian president reiterated Moscow's long-held position that Russia is not planning to attack European countries, but would respond to any attacks with all its arsenal.
“If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation — in this case we mean Kaliningrad, or maybe some other territories — of course, inevitably and immediately the question of Russian Federation using all weapons at the disposal of our country will appear on the agenda,” Putin said.
It comes as several Russian embassies in Europe this week issued statements that said Moscow has “information that NATO is preparing (an) air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and (the) Kaliningrad region.”
They accused European leaders of “playing a dangerous game” by saying Russia might attack another country or ramp up a campaign of destabilising attacks with drones and sabotage. Moscow has called the allegations absurd.
Putin observes military drills in Russia's Urals region
Friday 2 October 2026 21:00 , Daniel Keane
Russian President Vladimir Putin observed the Centre-2026 military exercises in Russia's Chelyabinsk region in the Urals on Friday.
The drills involve more than 47,000 personnel, Putin said.
Russian aerial strikes snarl traffic on 3 Kyiv bridges in a new disruption tactic
Friday 2 October 2026 20:00 , Daniel Keane
Russian aerial attacks forced the partial closure Friday of three bridges over the Dnipro River in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital's mayor said, in Moscow's latest effort to disrupt life in the city.
The Russian strikes forcing the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv's six road bridges caused traffic logjams and appeared to be a new tactic in its campaign to torment the city's residents.
Previously, Russia has hit apartment blocks, supermarket warehouses, gas stations and data centers, among other targets, in an escalation of attacks.
Oleksandr Pihalo, a Kyiv resident, said traffic was "jammed solid" and it took him 45 minutes to cover 4 kilometers (2 { miles). "It's a total mess on the road today," he told The Associated Press.
Trump diverts Ukraine aid to authoritarian countries in Latin America
Friday 2 October 2026 19:00 , Andrew Feinberg
The Trump administration is redirecting tens of millions of dollars in military aid from the European and Middle Eastern allies it had been allocated to by Congress and sending it instead to authoritarian and conservative-leaning regimes in Latin America.
Last month, the State Department notified leaders of the House and Senate foreign relations committees of its intent to divert the funds from their intended recipients, leading Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Gregory Meeks — the ranking Democrats on both panels — to send a letter in protest.
Shaheen and Meeks noted that the State Department’s decision to redirect upwards of $52 million in Foreign Military Finance funds meant for Ukraine, Europe and Middle Eastern partners to Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru had not been properly justified.
Read our full story below.
Trump diverts Ukraine aid to authoritarian countries in Latin America
Watch: Putin warns Russia could use 'all weapons' to defend Kaliningrad
Friday 2 October 2026 18:30 , Daniel Keane
Putin thinks he’s winning the Ukraine war – and I think he’s right, warns ex-Nato official
Friday 2 October 2026 18:00 , Athena Stavrou
Putin thinks he’s winning – and I think he’s right, warns ex-Nato official
Europe to release ‘massive amount of diesel’ after Trump’s supply threat
Friday 2 October 2026 17:30 , Daniel Keane
G7 leaders have agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel within four months as European nations scramble to prevent Donald Trump’s threatened ban on US exports to the bloc.
The move, announced by Emmanuel Macron after crisis talks on Friday, came following a US stand-off with the EU in the wake of Mr Trump’s conflict with Iran, that have sent prices soaring.
Moments before the deal was announced, Mr Trump said Europe was going to “release a massive amount” of its stocks after he threatened to cut off American diesel supplies to Europe if they did not release its reserves to help bring down the price of fuel in the US.
Read our full story below.
Trump claims Europe to release ‘massive amount of diesel’ after threat to supplies
Germany warns of further Russian hybrid attacks
Friday 2 October 2026 17:00 , Daniel Keane
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that Germany should prepare for further Russian hybrid attacks as the war in Ukraine continues. He said these could include cyberattacks and drone-related incidents.
German authorities have previously accused Russia of involvement in a range of hybrid activities, including an alleged attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport.
Moscow has rejected accusations from Germany and other Western governments that it is conducting such a campaign.
Merz also reaffirmed Germany's support for Ukraine and said Berlin wanted to strengthen its own military capabilities.
Ukraine ready for joint energy and Black Sea truce
Friday 2 October 2026 16:30 , Daniel Keane
Ukraine has said it has received separate proposals for limited ceasefires covering energy infrastructure and shipping in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was prepared to consider such an arrangement, proposed by the United States, India, Turkey and Egypt.
The proposed measures would focus on two areas that have become increasingly important during the war: attacks on energy infrastructure and attacks affecting commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
“We voiced our vision, based on our logic and our understanding of how this should all happen. We are ready for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire, but only in such a combination. Energy and ceasefire in the Black Sea,” the minister told Hromadske.
Ukraine ramps up production of interceptors as Russia steps up drone attacks
Friday 2 October 2026 15:54 , Daniel Keane
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine will be able to produce up to 400 interceptors by the end of the month to repel Russia’s jet-powered attack drones.
Speaking to the Financial Times, the Ukrainian president said Kyiv is testing five types of high-speed interceptor drones to defend against Russian attacks.
Vladimir Putin has increasingly targeted Ukrainian cities using the drones, hitting key infrastructure that is keeping Ukraine’s war-battered economy afloat.
Recent targets have included energy systems, key industries, railways, post offices, shopping centers, telecom networks, gas stations and grain exports.
The drones fly much higher and faster than propeller-driven drones and are much harder to stop.
Zelensky said that manufacturers hope to reach production of around 400 units by the end of October.
Russia says it will consider partial lifting of diesel export ban
Friday 2 October 2026 13:00 , Adam Withnall
Russia said on Friday it would consider a partial lifting of diesel export restrictions in case of overproduction, raising the prospect of a possible reprieve for global fuel markets strained by war and supply shortages.
Speaking in the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak also said that the domestic diesel market is currently balanced.
Russia this week extended its ban on diesel exports for fuel producers until the end of October, adding further strain on the global energy market. Russia was the world's second-largest diesel exporter after the United States before it started to limit overseas sales this summer to meet the demand of the domestic market, supplies to which were dented by Ukrainian attacks on refineries.
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia will not supply its diesel to global energy markets until sanctions against Moscow are lifted. Novak said that the situation with Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure has remained "tense".
He said Russia thwarted attacks on four refineries overnight, while the authorities were assessing the damage at one of the plants. Novak also said that the damage caused by repeated raids on refineries has been significantly lower thanks to protection measures.
"This allows us to restore damaged equipment and bring facilities back into operation more quickly after repairs," he said.
