Norwegian Prime Minister: ‘Zelensky’s plane was narrowly missed by a drone as it took off from Moldova’

Moscow also carried out an air strike on the Starokozache border crossing with Moldova, in the Odessa region, which was subsequently closed. Two people were killed and three others injured. A further 16 people were taken away by bus from the border crossing area, according to Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odessa region. Buildings, buses, lorries and cars were damaged. The raid is merely the latest in a series of Russian attacks on Odessa’s border infrastructure.

On 1 September, the Orlivka border crossing with Romania was also targeted, forcing the Ukrainian authorities to temporarily close the crossing. On 25 August, the Vinohradivka-Vulcanesti border crossing with Moldova was attacked by Russian drones. Another attack struck the Tabaki border crossing, also on the border with Moldova, on the night of 20 August. On 27 August, five Russian drones violated Moldova’s airspace.

Kiev is signing contracts to purchase around 1,000 Patriot missiles using an EU loan, with deliveries set to begin only in the coming years. This was stated by the Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevgeny Khmara during a meeting of the Ramstein Contact Group. “With the assistance of our partners and thanks to the EU loan,” he said, “we are signing contracts for around 1,000 Patriot missiles”. According to the news agency Ukrinform, Khmara clarified that the majority of the missile deliveries will take place in the coming years. Kyiv is also asking its partners to supply missiles from their own stockpiles. “We urge you to transfer missiles from your arsenals in exchange for future, upgraded missiles, which will be supplied under our contracts,” said Khmara. According to the Ukrainian Defence Minister, Kyiv needs to receive 300 Patriot missiles, 500 air-to-air missiles, portable air defence systems and $2 billion in funding for drones from its partners. Khmara added that Ukraine is facing a $27 billion deficit in its defence budget.

Russia, for its part, plans to conduct final tests of a new, unspecified type of ballistic missile with a range of up to 800 kilometres by the end of 2026, said Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the Ukrainian military intelligence agency (HUR), during a meeting with NATO member states, the Kyiv Independent reports today. Russia may intend to strike targets in western Ukraine during these missile tests, Skibitskyi said.

‘We are responding to Russia’s daily terrorist attacks in an effective and concrete manner across its entire territory. Today, we have achieved results in Novorossiysk, in the Krasnodar region. The naval base has been struck: the terminal used for loading oil, the military port facilities, military vessels and missile carriers.” This was stated by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram. “I thank all those who are developing the potential of our long-range strikes, so that the Russian war is felt ever more keenly where it originates,” he added.

In Brussels, a new row has flared up within the EU over Ukraine. Slovakia, it is understood, is blocking the extension of sanctions against Russia (the ‘roll-over’) and is calling for exemptions from the blacklist. The sticking point appears to be linked to the circumvention of the restrictive measures. The 27 Member States have until 15 September to resolve the issue, and Coreper will meet again to discuss it before the deadline.

“We need to achieve a just peace. We will continue to help Ukraine defend itself without sending our own troops. Europe can do a great deal, but I believe that Zelensky, too, should not look to individual European states but to all the Member States of the European Union. There is no need for initiatives taken by small groups. I say to Mr Zelensky, and I offer him this advice as a friend of Ukraine: it is wise to involve not only France and Germany but also Italy and Poland.” This was stated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, at a press conference at Fiesp, the Federation of Enterprises of the State of São Paulo.