Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1297: From Baltic Oil Strikes to NATO Probes: Ukraine War Expands Across Eastern Europe

Exclusives

Russia’s war games on NATO’s doorstep: “unstoppable” missile, nukes—and SIM-card drones. This year’s Zapad drills feature the testing of the new Oreshnik missile, nuclear decision-making scenarios, and evidence of Russian drones using Polish and Lithuanian SIM cards to probe NATO’s defenses.

IMF finds Ukraine needs $20bn more than estimated as US support dwindles. Ukraine’s funding needs through 2027 may be $20 billion higher than Kyiv estimates.

Mystery in Donetsk: did Ukraine just launch a secret cruise missile?. Ukraine launched a barrage of drones and missiles to slow Russian reinforcements massing in Donetsk. Did the raid reveal a new missile?

Thousands more drones: UK and Germany bankroll Kyiv blitz on Putin’s oil. Thanks to allied financing, Ukraine may soon have enough long-range missiles and drones to match Russia's own bombardment campaign.

Latest News

Fri Sep 12 2025

Ukraine’s General Staff considers turning off mobile network during alarm – media. Ukraine's military leadership is evaluating emergency mobile network shutdowns during air attacks as Russian forces potentially exploit telecommunications infrastructure for drone guidance systems “Eastern Sentry” – NATOs new plan to defend from Russian drones. NATO Secretary General and SACEUR announced a new defensive operation combining air, ground, and counter-drone capabilities, in response to recent Russian drone incursions into NATO territory. After 19 drones cross border, Poland’s Foreign Minister says diplomacy channels stay open. Russia's escalating attacks on Ukraine prove Moscow is not ready for peace, Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky said Ukraine quietly hits key Russian fuel node—twice in one week (video). New footage confirms a repeat strike on the fuel pumping station linking Russia's Ryazan and Moscow. Ukraine stops Russia’s offensive in Sumy Oblast – Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy confirmed that Russian troops have lost their ability to advance in Sumy oblast after repeated Ukrainian defensive operations. Claims of Ukrainian provocation over drone attacks echo Russian propaganda – Polish FM Sikorski. Calling the drone intrusion “a moment of truth,” Sikorski insisted Poland is certain the attack was a Russian operation, not an accident. Frontline Report: Domestic missiles give Ukraine the edge – Russian generals eliminated before major assault begins. Ukrainian intelligence tracked Russian reinforcement convoys through hacked traffic cameras and partisan networks before launching precision strikes that eliminated dozens of high-ranking officers. Preparing for another brutal Ukrainian winter, EU allocates €40 million to protect civilians. In previous winters, Ukraine has faced increased Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving millions across the country without light and heating during the cold months. Russian gas stations are shutting down across 10 regions—but Moscow blames vacation season, not Ukrainian drones. Russian officials deflect from strike campaign impact as fuel union reveals weeks-long delivery failures, ISW says. Israel sends cops and medics into wartime Ukraine — to protect pilgrims at a rabbi’s grave. Tens of thousands of Hasidic Jews will arrive in Uman despite Russian missile threats. Ukraine slashes red tape, saves citizens $12 billion with genius app. According to government calculations, citizens using Diia pay six times less for services than offline procedures. SIM cards in downed drones expose Russia’s months-long plan to target Poland and Lithuania. Russia prepared drone strikes on Poland and Lithuania for months, using local SIM cards to test network connectivity. Rheinmetall to build shell factory in Ukraine after finalizing joint production procedures. German defense giant moves forward with major manufacturing investment as cooperation deepens across multiple defense sectors. UK responds to Russian aggression with Ukraine aid, not military escalation. British Foreign Secretary used her first official visit to Kyiv to send Moscow an unmistakable message. Bundestag defense chief wants drone factories in Russia destroyed and NATO to shoot down Moscow’s drones. Chair of the German Bundestag Defense Committee Thomas Röwekamp stated that NATO should shoot down Russian drones over Ukraine and increase support to Kyiv to target their production facilities Ukraine’s long arm: 1000 km deep, a drone ignites Russia’s Baltic Sea oil terminal near Finland. A ship caught fire and airports shut down as explosions echoed from Smolensk to Leningrad Oblast. ISW: The Kremlin’s Europe distraction playbook just opened to the Balkans chapter. From airspace threats in Poland to Dodik’s referendum push, Russia’s divide-and-distract game expands. A Shahed found its victim in Sumy—Russia’s second strike erased any chance of rescue from the rubble. Emergency crews in Sumy couldn’t reach the trapped man before Russia sent a follow-up drone to block recovery. Moscow’s oil income squeezed as market surplus overwhelms war premium. Russian oil revenues hit wartime low as oversupply overwhelms geopolitics. Russia’s Krasnodar reopens airport closed since start of full-scale war in Ukraine. Russian airline Aeroflot resumes flights to the city of Krasnodar, 200km from Russian-occupied Crimea, for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war. Read our previous report here.