Missiles over Ukraine, more drones in Denmark

Warsaw closed its airspace near two cities in the south-east, scrambled fighter jets to monitor the situation, and put its ground air defence systems on alert: systems used in recent days precisely to shoot down unidentified drones. After the raids, Zelensky spoke with Mark Rutte on the phone. In the exchange with the NATO secretary general, they also discussed how to strengthen the Purl (Priority Ukraine Needs List) programme, an initiative launched in the summer by Washington and the Atlantic Alliance to allow Europeans and Canada to buy American weapons to send to Ukraine. One Patriot system has arrived in Kiev from Israel, two more are expected to arrive soon, Zelensky reported. The Ukrainian leader also heard from Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, adding that he discussed with the latter 'the recent increase in drone incidents in Europe'.

A deluge of bombs, twelve hours of raids: it was yet another nightmare night for Ukraine in the face of one of the most massive Russian attacks in recent months, which also prompted Poland to scramble its jets to protect its borders. At least four dead in Kiev and 70 wounded in various regions of the country is the provisional toll of this 'cowardly' act, denounced Volodymyr Zelensky, while Moscow claimed, as is often the case, that it had only targeted 'military targets'.

Eleven Ukrainian regions were affected by Russian raids, Interior Minister Igor Klymenko announced. In the capital, a twelve-year-old girl was found lifeless under the rubble of a residential building. Two other people killed were in a medical institution. Zelensky published photos of burning residential buildings, and Afp journalists saw rescuers using heavy machinery among the almost destroyed buildings. According to the General Staff, the Russians launched 643 drones and rockets, including cruise missiles, over eastern, central and southern Ukraine.

Denmark is banning all civil drone flights this week ahead of the EU summit. This was announced by the Danish ministry responsible.

During the night, drones were spotted near military sites in Denmark, the Danish defence website reports: 'Defence confirms that drones were spotted during the night at several military locations. Several resources have been deployed,' the statement reports. The Danish public service broadcaster, Dr, contacted the defence, who would not comment further. Drones had also been spotted near military sites in Denmark the night before.

Russia claimed to have hit military targets in Ukraine during night shelling. "Last night the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation conducted a massive attack against enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex," the Russian Defence Ministry announced in a note.

"Putin has an unacceptable aggressiveness, but I absolutely do not believe he wants to attack Italy, I can deny that. However, our air defence is always vigilant and careful. The efficiency of the air force is always high both on the ground and in the sky, so Italians can rest assured," said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on the sidelines of the Forza Italia party in Telese Terme. "We must not dramatise," he said, "there is nothing worrying for our country, I want to reassure everyone. I also spoke with Crosetto this morning, we consulted, we reassure everyone'.

The 'massive Russian attack on Ukraine lasted more than 12 hours' and involved 'almost 500 drones and more than 40 missiles' and 'by morning the Russian-Iranian Shahed were back in our skies'. This was written by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, on his Telegram channel, where he emphasised that 'this cowardly attack took place in the week of the UN General Assembly, and this is how Russia declares its real position'. And again: 'Moscow wants to continue fighting and killing and deserves only the harshest pressure in the world'. Therefore, according to the Ukrainian president, 'anyone who wants peace must support President Trump's efforts and stop any Russian import. The time for decisive action has come, and we count on a strong reaction from the US, Europe, the G7 and the G20'.

Speaking about Russia's alleged incursions on various European countries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine had intercepted 92 drones heading towards Poland and that 'Italy could be next'. He stated this in a post on X. "I hope this doesn't happen, but I don't think Putin wants to unleash World War III and I don't think Italy is a military target," commented Vice-Premier Antonio Tajani. However, Tajani pointed out that the 'Italian air defence is able to verify what is happening and shoot down drones with threatening intentions'. For the foreign minister, 'Putin is testing the West's reactions, but the West has already shown it knows how to react', even if these from Russia seem to be 'political and not military messages', he added.

Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed forty-one Ukrainian drones last night. This was reported by the Russian Defence Ministry. "During the night of 28 September," the ministry said, "in-service air defences destroyed 41 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones: twelve in the Kursk region, ten in the Bryansk region, eight in the Belgorod region, four in the Tula region, three in the Yaroslavl region, two in the Rostov region and one in each of the Novgorod and Samara regions."

As Russia launched a massive drone attack on the Ukrainian capital, killing at least four people, Poland closed its airspace near two of its southeastern cities this morning and its air force responded by sending in its jets. The Polish Armed Forces said on X that it had scrambled fighter planes into its airspace and put its ground air defence systems on high alert in response to Russian attacks in Ukraine. These were preventive measures and aimed at protecting Polish airspace and citizens, especially in areas adjacent to Ukraine, the forces said.

Russia launched 'hundreds of drones and missiles' during the night against Ukraine. This was announced by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga on X. 'Russia,' it reads, 'launched a new massive air attack on Ukrainian cities while people were sleeping. Once again, hundreds of drones and missiles destroyed residential buildings causing civilian casualties'. There are currently four deaths in the Russian bombardment of Kiev, according to Ukrinform, which cites available operational information. Meanwhile, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitali Klitschko, reported that 'in the Solomyanskyi district, a fire broke out at a gas station due to falling debris. The fire has already been extinguished', while Ukrinform writes that a fire was also extinguished in a building of a state medical facility, where rescuers found the bodies of two people lifeless, while five people were rescued, and that numerous residential and non-residential structures were damaged in the city in general.