At the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base, on 6 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his appeal for authorisation to employ long-range weapons against targets deep inside Russian territory, noting that the Kursk operation had eliminated the immediate threat to Sumy.

On the same day, the 12th “Azov” Assault Brigade conducted a bold operation in Donetsk Oblast, breaking the encirclement of Ukrainian units and recapturing part of the strategic town of New York.

The United States announced a military assistance package worth USD 250 million, while Germany, together with partners, pledged the delivery of 77 Leopard 1A5 tanks and 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers.

On the following day, international tensions escalated after Russian drones violated the airspace of Romania and Latvia; in Latvia, an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying explosive material crashed on national territory. Ukraine continued its campaign against Russia’s logistical rear, triggering a massive detonation at an ammunition depot in Voronezh Oblast that forced the evacuation of nearby residents. In response to reports of Iranian ballistic missile transfers to Russia, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Tehran of “devastating consequences” for bilateral relations. On the ground, Russian forces made advances near Kupiansk and Pokrovsk, while President Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine was constructing underground weapons factories to reduce dependence on disrupted Western supplies.

On 8 September, Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced the capture of Novohrodivka—a claim corroborated by independent sources—which indicated the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from this key position shielding Pokrovsk.

Iranian parliamentarian Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani openly acknowledged that Iran was supplying Russia with ballistic missiles as part of a barter arrangement involving grain and soybeans, contradicting Tehran’s official denials.

On 10 September, the situation in Kursk Oblast changed dramatically when Russian forces launched a large-scale counteroffensive in the Korenevo area, recapturing several localities, including Snagost and Gordeyevka. Ukraine responded with a mass drone strike across nine Russian regions, including Moscow Oblast, where falling debris damaged high-rise buildings in Ramenskoye, caused fatalities, and paralysed the capital’s main airports. In the Black Sea, Ukrainian military intelligence conducted a successful operation, downing a modern Su-30SM fighter aircraft using a man-portable air defence system. Despite Russian territorial gains in Donbas, the introduction of Ukrainian reserves stabilised the defence in Selydove, temporarily halting the direct threat to Pokrovsk.

The second decade of September opened with a sharp escalation in Kursk Oblast. Russian command, employing the elite 155th Naval Infantry Brigade and airborne units, launched a powerful thrust from the Korenevo direction, aiming to relieve Russian units cut off between the Seym River and the state border. According to geolocation data, Russian forces managed to enter the strategic village of Snagost, compelling Ukrainian command to redeploy reserves from other sectors.

In Donbas, the situation continued to deteriorate. Russian forces captured Lysivka, directly threatening Pokrovsk’s logistics. The most shocking incident, however, was a Russian attack on a convoy of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Viroliubivka, which killed three humanitarian workers and triggered widespread international condemnation.

Mid-September brought two significant diplomatic and humanitarian successes. As part of two successive prisoner exchanges—mediated by the United Arab Emirates—a total of 152 Ukrainians returned home, including defenders of Azovstal and civilians. On the Russian side, those released were primarily conscripts captured in Kursk Oblast, a move intended to ease domestic social tensions.

Sunday, 15 September, was marked by a brutal attack on residential buildings in Kharkiv. A Russian KAB guided bomb struck a 12-storey apartment block, killing a 94-year-old woman and injuring dozens of civilians. Images of the burning high-rise once again reinforced Ukrainian demands for strengthened air defence.

Significant changes were also announced in Ukraine’s military training system. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, responding to frontline reports of inadequate preparation among recruits, declared an extension of basic training. The decision aims to improve soldiers’ survivability on the battlefield, albeit at the cost of slower replenishment of frontline units. At the same time, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski highlighted the need for a systemic solution regarding Ukrainians of conscription age residing in Europe, suggesting restrictions on social benefits for individuals capable of military service.

Illustrative photo generated by AI