⚡️EU weighs bond swap plan to unlock frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, Politico reports.

The proposal, described by one source as "legally creative," would allow Brussels to provide critical financial support to Ukraine without technically seizing the Russian capital—an act that would be fraught with legal risk.

⚡️EU to apply 'unique' approach to Ukraine's accession path as Hungary wields veto, official says.

There is an agreement in place with the EU to maintain Kyiv's progress despite Budapest's veto, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka said.

⚡️Railway explosion in Russia's Oryol Oblast kills 2 National Guard officers.

Explosive devices were discovered during an inspection of the tracks, Oryol Oblast Governor Andrey Klychkov said. One of the devices detonated, killing two officers and seriously injuring another.

⚡️Update: Romanian foreign minister calls Russian drone breach 'unacceptable and reckless.'

Romanian Foreign Minister Toiu Oana pledged to raise Moscow's latest provocation at the United Nations General Assembly.

"Romania condemns Russia's behavior and takes the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security."

⚡️US not sure Russia deliberately launched drones into Poland, Rubio says.

"There's no doubt about the drones were intentionally launched. The question is whether the drones were targeted to go into Poland specifically," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters.

⚡️US 'behind' Ukraine in drone technology, Trump envoy Kellogg says.

"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."

⚡️Ukrainian drone hits chemical plant in Russia's Perm Krai 1,800 km from border, media reports.

The Metafrax Chemicals plant in Gubakha, Perm Krai, is subject to international sanctions by the U.K. and Ukraine.

⚡️Ukrainian troops regain control of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast village, military says.

Units of Ukraine's 425th Skelya Regiment liberated the village of Filia in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a military spokesperson said. Russia claimed control of the settlement on Aug. 24.

⚡️Ukrainian drones strike major Russian oil refinery in Leningrad Oblast, governor says.

The Kirishi refinery is one of the largest in Russia and has a processing capacity of over 17 million tons of oil per year. A fire broke out at the facility during a Ukrainian drone attack, Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko claimed.

⚡️Ukraine hits Russia's Black Sea Fleet communication hub in occupied Crimea, Navy says.

According to the statement, the communications center, responsible for coordinating operations of Russia's Black Sea Fleet units, was located at the site of the 184th Research and Testing Facility.

Russia's Shahed-type attack drones are bigger than you think

Russia's "unprecedented" violation of Poland's airspace earlier this week made one thing very clear — it's not just Ukraine that has to be concerned about Moscow's long-range attack drones anymore.

For most people outside of Ukraine, their frame of reference for a drone is a typical quadcopter, the size of which can usually be measured in tens of centimeters.

But the long-range attack drones launched in their hundreds almost every night by Russia against Ukrainian cities are in a league of their own and are, in comparison to their quadcopter counterparts, absolutely massive.

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Sept. 14, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

⚡️Explosions damage railway infrastructure near Kyiv, prompting train route changes.

ZN.UA outlet, citing unnamed sources, reported that explosions were caused by the detonation of munitions being transported by train near the village of Kalynivka in Kyiv Oblast, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of the capital.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on these claims and have yet to disclose more details about the incident.

⚡️Russian attacks kill 7, injure 34 in Ukraine over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 52 out of the 58 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Russia also launched an Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missile.

Photo: Vadym Filashkin/Telegram

⚡️Romania didn't down Russian drone in its airspace because it circled back to attack Ukraine, Romanian defense minister says.

The drone crossed into Romania on Sept. 13 during a Russian attack on Ukraine, penetrating about 10 kilometers (six miles) and remaining in NATO airspace for around 50 minutes, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️Ukraine behind attack on Russian railway logistics, undermining offensive capabilities, military intelligence source claims.

"These railway lines are critical supply routes for Russian forces operating in the Kharkiv and Sumy directions," a source in Ukraine’s military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️Estonia to pledge over $117 million in military aid to Ukraine in 2026.

Since the start of Russia's all-out war in February 2022, Estonia has provided over 500 million euros ($527 million) in military aid to Ukraine, amounting to 1.4% of the country's GDP.

‘Opinion is shifting towards this idea,’ says Polish FM Sikorski on NATO closing the sky over western Ukraine

Russia has faced little to no consequences following its brazen Sept. 10 attack on Poland, yet Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski is upbeat about NATO's response and how things have played out since.

"I think Russia lost this confrontation," Sikorski told the Kyiv Independent in an interview on the sidelines of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference held in Kyiv on Sept 12-13.

Photo: MSZ/Konrad Laskowski

Putin's clash with Russia's top banker shows increasing disconnect over war economy, experts say

A recent clash between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sberbank CEO German Gref shows an increasing disconnect between the Kremlin and Russia's economic community, experts say.

Gref, head of Russia's largest bank, told the Eastern Economic Forum on Sept. 5 that Russia's GDP growth had slowed to near zero in July and August after a sharp drop in the April–June quarter.

Photo: Mikhail Metzel / Sputnik / AFP via Getty Images

⚡️Ukraine destroys $40 million Russian Buk air defense system, military intelligence says.

Ukrainian special forces successfully detected and destroyed a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Sept. 14, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported.