Russia-Ukraine War

Russia Places Nestlé, Auchan Assets Under Administration

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the temporary administration of Nestlé’s and Auchan’s Russian assets, transferring control to the local firm L.E.V. Management as part of Moscow’s broader use of temporary administration to influence foreign-owned businesses operating in Russia; reports also note related actions affecting LS brands like Leroy Merlin and ongoing questions about ownership transfers and capacity plans.

Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Assault on Moscow

A series of Russian drone strikes hit Ukrainian cities, destroying shopping centers and damaging commercial facilities, with fires in Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, and the Kyiv region and multiple reports of injuries or casualties as rescue services work to assess damage. Civilians, including children near skateparks, were reported as witnesses or victims, and authorities warned that the situation remains dangerous with ongoing alerts and follow-up strikes anticipated.

Zelenskyy Launches Carpathian Eight Summit for Regional Cooperation

Zelenskyy launched the Carpathian Eight summit in Bukovel Sept. 18-20 with seven neighbors and the EU, with EUR1 billion in deals expected as strikes killed two in Zhytomyr.

IAEA Reports Drone Hit Kursk Plant Cooling Tower

IAEA: drone hit Kursk nuclear plant cooling tower early Thursday; no fire, reactor mode unchanged, no immediate radiological consequences.

Couple confirms Russian businessman funded Trump Jr. post-wedding celebrations

Bettina Trump confirmed IBA head Umar Kremlev funded two post-wedding Bahamas nights after a Sept. 14, 2026 ProPublica report, calling him a dear friend and the outlay a wedding gift.

Ukraine Launches Major Attack on Moscow, Russia

Over the past day, hundreds of combat engagements occurred along Ukraine's front as Russian forces mounted mass strikes and drones, while Ukrainian defenses repelled numerous assaults across multiple sectors, with Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka areas seeing the heaviest activity. The reporting indicates persistent bombardment, thousands of kamikaze drones, and sustained shelling, underscoring ongoing high-intensity fighting across Sumy, Lyman, Sloviansk, Kupiansk, and surrounding fronts.

UN Report Attributes 1,004 Ukraine Sexual Violence Cases Mostly to Russia

UN report documents 1,004 sexual violence cases in Ukraine since 2022, attributing 89% to Russia; majority of survivors are men, including via electric shocks with a Soviet-era tapik.

Trump Signs Russia Sanctions and Tariff Bill

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the US House’s passage of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, linking it to Russia’s overnight missile and drone strikes that damaged energy infrastructure and injured civilians across eight regions. He urged that sanctions remain strong and not be eased, calling the bill a powerful tool to pressure Moscow toward peace amid ongoing attacks and renewed diplomacy efforts with partners.

Poland Scrambles Jets After Russian Drone Attack

Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed the Rzeszów and Lublin airports as Russian attacks near western Ukraine triggered air-raid alerts and heightened air-defense readiness, with operations suspended for several minutes before restrictions eased and civilian flights resumed mid-morning. The measures, described as precautionary to ensure military freedom of action, affected regional traffic and reflected ongoing security concerns near the Ukrainian border.

Russia-Ukraine Strikes Kill 10, Wound 71

Russian forces intensified strikes on Ukrainian Black Sea ports, hitting a ferry and a tanker in Chornomorsk and Izmail along with a cargo train, while Lithuania’s Klaipėda Port is set for a $115 million upgrade to accommodate NATO ships and strengthen regional logistics. Zelensky said Russia is continuing attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector and critical infrastructure, with targets including gas stations and other key facilities, signaling a broader escalation and strain on regional stability.

Zelenskyy appoints Kovalskyi acting prosecutor general

Zelenskyy signed decree No. 946/2026 on Sept. 17 naming Anton Kovalskyi acting prosecutor general after parliament dismissed Ruslan Kravchenko on Sept. 15.

Russia Returns to FIFA Competition in U-15 World Cup

Russia's youth teams will compete in the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan, marking the first return to international play since the 2022 invasion, though senior teams remain suspended from major competitions. The move, part of a gradual easing by FIFA and the IOC, places Russia in a group with Turkey, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Sudan, amid ongoing questions about wider Olympic participation.

Russian Strike on Kyiv Injures 12, Including Two Children

Sixteen people, including two children ages 10 and 12, were injured in a Russian attack on Kyiv on Sept. 17, 2026.

Macron Warns of Intensifying Russian Hybrid Threats

European security is being stretched by Russia’s hybrid warfare, with drone incursions, espionage, cyber attacks and economic coercion prompting Europe to pursue coordinated diplomacy and a pan-European missile defense while national leaders debate NATO’s role and potential responses. At the same time, public fear online about a Russia-led war contrasts with assessments that Russia’s conventional capacity is limited, even as politicians warn of escalating conflict and seek steadier support for Kyiv.

Ovechkin Campaign Video Draws NHL, Latvia Scrutiny

Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin appeared in campaign videos for Russia's ruling United Russia party alongside Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ahead of the September elections, continuing a long history of publicly supporting Vladimir Putin. The appearances echo his earlier 'Putin Team' initiative and have drawn attention to the intersection of sports stardom and Russian politics while underscoring his ongoing political alignment with the Kremlin.

Russia’s Wartime Economy Faces Debt, Spending Strain

Despite high oil revenue and relatively low unemployment cushioning Moscow’s wartime spending, Russia’s economy is under mounting stress from ballooning budget deficits and rising debt as growth slows and consumer confidence wanes. Analysts warn these weaknesses could herald a longer-term crisis, even as the Kremlin pursues a narrative of stability ahead of its stage-managed parliamentary election amid refinery disruptions, fuel shortages, and higher energy costs.

Russian attack on Balakliia kills two and injures two

Indictment charges five in alleged Russian plot to kill US dissident

Five remain at large after a Sept. 15, 2026 indictment charged them in an alleged Russian plot to kill a Washington dissident; a Brooklyn recruit declined a $40,000 murder offer.

Russian Frigate Fires Flares Near Danish Helicopter

A Russian frigate fired two flares at a Danish Fennec helicopter near Gedser; one passed close during a photo mission. Rasmussen called it 'unacceptable'; ambassador Barbin will be summoned.

Poland, Ukraine condemn Russian drone strike on train near border

Russian drone hit a Kyiv-Warsaw train 2 km from Poland with no casualties; Johnson’s train had just passed and Petraeus was nearby as Warsaw warned of spillover risk.

Zelenskyy sanctions ex-press secretary Mendel over disinformation claims

Zelenskyy has imposed personal sanctions on former press secretary Yuliia Mendel alongside ten other individuals for spreading disinformation and supporting Russia, including asset freezes and restrictions on trade and movement. Mendel has criticized the move as unconstitutional, arguing sanctions on Ukrainian citizens contradict peace efforts.

Trump Urges Ukraine to Halt Russian Refinery Strikes

Trump in Ireland urged Zelenskyy to stop Russian diesel strikes after U.S. prices topped $6 a gallon, as both sides traded deadly overnight drone attacks.

World Athletics Maintains Russia Ban Ahead of CAS Case

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has reiterated that the body's sanctions against Russia and Belarus remain in place, emphasizing integrity of competition over politics. As Russian Athletics appeals to CAS and the IOC allows some Russian participation in Los Angeles qualifiers, Coe says the path to full global participation will require resolution, while other sports have begun easing restrictions.

Possible Drone Alert Closes Vilnius Airport, NATO Scrambles

Vilnius Airport closed 38 minutes on Sept. 13, 2026 after a NATO jet found a suspected drone was a flock of birds.