Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1313: Russia uses tankers to launch drone attacks across Europe

Exclusives

Tomahawk deal with Ukraine? Vance confirms active White House discussions during Fox News appearance. He said the administration is considering European requests to buy US missile systems for Kyiv.

Military

Satellite images confirm Ukrainian drones destroyed Russian Be‑12 and An‑26 aircraft in occupied Crimea. New imagery proves the effectiveness of HUR strikes on airfields near Kacha and Simferopol days ago. Ukraine's intelligence blew up a Russian drone crew van in Melitopol — video hints at sabotage. Footage shows a UAZ-452 "Bukhanka" rolling out of a workshop before being struck at a guarded base inside an industrial facility. Hundreds of unmanned aircraft, dozens of rockets — Russia kills a 12-year-old, three other civilians, injures dozens (updated). Reports on the dead and injured from come from Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. Among Russia's targets was a Kyiv hospital and Fastiv bread plant.

Intelligence and technology

Moscow blinds "eyes" of Ukraine's partners with phantom advances through AI battlefield system. While Ukrainian troops hold positions, manipulated intelligence makes partners believe Kyiv is losing ground. Germany creates anti-drone Center as "swarms" detected over border state. Germany is developing a joint drone defense research project with Israel while establishing a new anti-drone center, as Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt responds to mounting security concerns across Europe. Australia is spending billions on drones — Ukraine says it can make that money count. Kyiv offers drone tech and battlefield expertise to Australia, and touts its Magura naval drones, credited with sinking Russian ships and downing Russian jets, as a model for future cooperation.

International

First results show Moldova's pro-EU party PAS leads with 43%. Pro-European political forces captured a clear majority in Moldova's parliamentary elections, with three pro-EU parties securing 57% of votes compared to 34% for pro-Russian and Eurosceptic parties JD Vance: "The Russians have got to wake up and accept reality". US Vice President JD Vance said Russia has refused bilateral and trilateral peace negotiations over recent weeks. NYP op-ed: "Moscow keeps offering the same choice: act or fold" — and NATO keeps folding. Andrew Chakhoyan argues that NATO's consistent reluctance to respond with force to Russia's repeated airspace violations plays directly into Moscow's hands. Estonia to provide $ 11 mn for initiative to purchase US weapons for Ukraine. Estonia became the latest NATO member to fund American weapons for Ukraine through the Alliance's PURL mechanism

Humanitarian and social impact

Russia wins back Paralympic arena while bombing Ukraine's children. Since February 2022, Ukraine has lost 489 athletes to Russia's full-scale war, with many more maimed. Yet in Seoul, IPC delegates voted to restore Russia's and Belarus's status, granting the Kremlin a propaganda stage. Small-caliber shell pierces Polish Embassy roof in Kyiv amid Russia's massive night assault. A tiny projectile shattered the kitchen ceiling of Poland's consular section as Russia unleashed over 40 missiles and 500 drones on Kyiv, killing four civilians, including a 12-year-old girl. Russia's war needs bodies: Kenyan recruits rescued before being shipped to Ukraine frontline. A multi-agency raid near Nairobi exposed a recruitment scheme using fake Moscow job offers to funnel men to the front.

New developments

Zelenskyy: Russians use tankers to launch drones across Europe. Russian drones and aircraft have violated the airspace of eight NATO and EU countries throughout September, with incidents ranging from 12-minute fighter jet intrusions over Estonia to four-hour airport closures in Denmark. Danish Army reports unidentified drones over its facilities again. Drone incursions reached Danish military facilities, extending a pattern of airspace violations that has affected multiple European countries since late August Germany might let its army shoot down drones—because the threat is now "very concrete". As drone sightings grow across northern Europe, Berlin wants the Bundeswehr to take aim. Drone part recovered in Pärnu County, Estonia as agencies probe how it reached national territory. Officials say there's no evidence the drone entered Estonian airspace or crashed on land. Russia and Hungary coordinate a bizarre false‑flag narrative accusing Ukraine of plotting NATO drone strikes. Within hours of a Hungarian outlet's article, Moscow amplified claims of a Ukrainian plan to attack Poland and Romania. Vacancies: Deputy editor-in-chief, fundraising communications manager. Euromaidan Press is expanding and searching for professional soulmates who believe in independent journalism. Read our earlier daily review here.