The US approves the sale of air defence systems worth 2.6 billion to Ukraine

Also on X, the Ukrainian President added: “I have received reports from Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi”, with whom “we discussed the revision of the regulatory framework and the procedures for recruiting foreign volunteers to serve in the Ukrainian Defence Forces. Anyone who believes that our defence of Ukrainian independence is of global significance must have the opportunity to prove their worth and receive the respect they deserve. I am grateful to all the foreign volunteers who have already made a significant contribution to the defence of Ukraine.” “I have also approved new long-range operations in response to Russian attacks,” Zelensky continued, “and we are preparing to enhance our long-range capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Moldova has reported a further violation of its airspace, attributing yesterday’s explosion near Chisinau to an alleged drone. The incident, which caused no casualties or damage, represents “a new and serious consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”, stated the Moldovan Foreign Ministry in a statement, describing any unauthorised entry into the country’s airspace as “unacceptable” and a “serious violation” of national sovereignty. The explosion occurred yesterday in Colonita, a village near Chisinau. Police at the scene reported finding fragments believed to be from a drone. However, the origin of the unmanned aerial vehicle was not specified. Moldovan border authorities also reported today that several unidentified aircraft had passed through the country’s airspace in the south-east, one of which crashed on Ukrainian territory.

Russia plans to recruit at least 27 Yemeni citizens for its war against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. Some of the Yemeni nationals that Russia intends to recruit for the war against Ukraine were born in 2006 and 2007, the Foreign Intelligence Service reported. The Russian authorities are said to have planned to draw up military contracts once their residency status has been regularised, which takes place under a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning a temporary procedure for granting citizenship and residence permits.

In 2024, reports emerged that Russia was recruiting “hundreds” of Yemeni mercenaries to fight in Ukraine. North Korea remains the main supplier of foreign troops to the Russian war effort, having previously deployed 12,000 soldiers in support of a Russian-led counter-offensive in the Kursk Oblast in 2025.

Speaking at a press conference following the informal Ecofin meeting in Dublin, the European Commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, said that the projections regarding Ukraine’s financial requirements for next year had been made on the assumption that the war with Russia would end that year, but today ‘the end of the war in 2027 appears less likely. There are many objective reasons behind the growing gap’ between the funds available to the Ukrainian state and its needs, but ‘extreme uncertainty remains. The matter requires some work’. The EU’s €90 billion loan to Ukraine, the Commissioner noted, “had characteristics” that make it very similar to a grant, he continued, and there is little scope for further loans, so “we are continuing to work with our partners” to increase funding for Ukraine. Dombrovskis went on to add that the Commission is ready to assess ‘various options’ regarding the possible use of Russian sovereign assets frozen in the EU to facilitate an agreement among Member States.

During the night of 18–19 September, the Ukrainian Defence Forces struck drone control posts, a training camp and support facilities belonging to Russian troops in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. This was reported by Ukrinform, citing the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which posted the news on Facebook. Drone control points were struck in the Luhansk and Pokrovsk districts of the Donetsk region, as well as in the Volodymyrivka, Verbovye, Novoprokopivka, Dobropillya and Rivnopillya districts of the Zaporizhzhia region. Two of these sites were struck in the Novoprokopivka district. Furthermore, in the occupied Novopetrivka area and in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Vostochny training ground was struck. Furthermore, in the Donetsk region, a depot containing technical equipment and materials in Rybinsk was struck, and in the Amvrosiivka area, a Russian aggressor’s ammunition depot was hit.

Overnight, Russia launched two Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, 174 drones and other aircraft at Ukraine, targeting mainly the Odessa and Kyiv regions, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

At 8.00 am, the Ukrainian defence forces reported that they had shot down or neutralised 141 targets: three Banderol/Dan-T drones and 138 Shahed drones (half of which were jet-powered), Gerbera drones and other types.

The two Zircon missiles did not hit their targets, according to the Ukrainian army, which added that the point of impact was still being ascertained.