Russian drone destroys Kyiv ammunition depot, killing 37 in deadliest strike of the year

What we know
- A barrage of Russian missiles and drones targeting Kyiv and nearby regions has left at least four people dead and injured more than a dozen, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack occurred after Ukraine's Air Force alerted residents to incoming ballistic missiles and other weapons systems.
- Explosions from a Russian drone strike on a weapons warehouse west of Kyiv on Friday night destroyed dozens of homes and killed 37 people. The attack on the facility in Myla, Bucha district, occurred as Russia sustained 72 hours of relentless drone assaults across Ukraine.
- Twelve people died in Russian air strikes on Kyiv and its region on September 1, with dozens more wounded, officials reported. The assault marked six consecutive days of heavy attacks on Ukraine's capital, injuring three children as the school year begins, while Moscow deploys jet-powered drone swarms for round-the-clock strikes.
- Moscow has announced it will launch large-scale attacks targeting Ukraine's power grid. A strike on a Bucha ammunition depot claimed 37 lives, marking the year's deadliest single attack, prompting President Zelenskyy to question how munitions are being stored.
- German police investigated an overnight fire at a construction site near Rohde & Schwarz, a Munich-based defense firm, and arrested two Bulgarian nationals. The blaze caused no significant damage or injuries, but occurred shortly after two power grid sabotage attempts amid rising German concerns over critical infrastructure threats.
Updates
Newest first- Key moment
Kate Koval left Louisiana State University's basketball program after the team signed Russian player Anna Minaeva. The 20-year-old said Russia's invasion of Ukraine made the decision necessary, citing her father's service in the Ukrainian military and losses close to her family in the conflict.
Putin said there was no present need to mobilize more men, describing reports of a fresh mobilization campaign as Ukrainian "disinformation." Putin called Ukraine's directive that civilian planes shun Russian skies "state-sponsored terrorism," reiterating his earlier criticism that such threats obstruct peace negotiations.
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One person died in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital Thursday evening. The strike ignited a fire in a high-rise residential building and caused severe structural damage, according to the city's military administration.
Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Thursday that economic sanctions imposed by Washington have been effective against Iran but risk forcing the country toward dangerous action. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel is preparing both political and economic countermeasures against Britain and other nations that have sanctioned Israeli industry.
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Germany probes suspected arson at defense firm as sabotage concerns mount
German police investigated an overnight fire at a construction site near Rohde & Schwarz, a Munich-based defense firm, and arrested two Bulgarian nationals. The blaze caused no significant damage or injuries, but occurred shortly after two power grid sabotage attempts amid rising German concerns over critical infrastructure threats.

Archive photo · Kārlis Dambrāns · CC BY 2.0 London has formally protested to Russia's envoy about an unmanned aircraft attack on Leipzig/Halle airport in August. Berlin has attributed responsibility to the Kremlin.
UK diplomat confronts Moscow over drone incident at German airport
London has formally protested to Russia's envoy about an unmanned aircraft attack on Leipzig/Halle airport in August. Berlin has attributed responsibility to the Kremlin.

Archive photo · MarcelX42 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Russia's Transport Ministry said it has provided clarifications to foreign airlines about the safety of Russian airports and airspace. The move followed warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that flights in Russia had become unsafe.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that ending the war in Ukraine remained possible. He argued that restarting negotiations faced complications from Kyiv's maritime strikes and its directive that civilian planes shun Russian skies.
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Putin sees path to peace but Ukrainian moves raise obstacles
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that ending the war in Ukraine remained possible. He argued that restarting negotiations faced complications from Kyiv's maritime strikes and its directive that civilian planes shun Russian skies.

Archive photo · Sergey Subbotin / Сергей Субботин · CC BY-SA 3.0 - Key moment
Moscow will close all three branches of Germany's Goethe-Institut in response to Berlin's decision to shut the Russian House of Culture following a drone incident at Leipzig Airport on August 4. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the move means the end of Germany's cultural presence in Russia. Germany also plans to close Russia's consulate in Bonn and pursue tougher sanctions and stricter entry controls.
Russia provides foreign airlines with safety clarifications for airports and airspace
Russia's Transport Ministry said it has provided clarifications to foreign airlines about the safety of Russian airports and airspace. The move followed warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that flights in Russia had become unsafe.

Archive photo · Gadfium · CC0 1.0 - Key moment
The Professor Molchanov, a Russian ship, was impounded off Svalbard following a 24-hour standoff with Norway's coast guard. The action enforces a $4.22 billion judgment that a 2023 tribunal in The Hague awarded to Naftogaz for assets Russia seized during its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
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Russia is shutting down Goethe-Institut operations in the country, according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The move follows Germany's decision to end its contract with the Russian House in response to an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle airport.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the closure of Germany's Goethe-Institut cultural centres. The move follows Germany's decision to close the Russian House in Berlin, itself a response to a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport that Germany attributed to Russia.
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According to a Financial Times investigation, Moscow has deployed seasoned military experts to assist Tehran in developing supersonic cruise missiles that could menace American warships in the Middle East. The two nations have deepened their military partnership through an exchange of weaponry and tactical knowledge.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent identified airlines, the maritime sector and digital assets as possible sanctions targets as the Trump administration moves to squeeze Iran's economy. He cautioned all nations against supporting Tehran, calling such backing the main obstacle to resolving the conflict.
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US targets Iran's airlines and digital assets, Bessent says
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent identified airlines, the maritime sector and digital assets as possible sanctions targets as the Trump administration moves to squeeze Iran's economy. He cautioned all nations against supporting Tehran, calling such backing the main obstacle to resolving the conflict.
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Berlin has concluded that Moscow was responsible for an attack last month at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where a drone carrying explosives malfunctioned. The facility is vital to supplying Ukraine and supporting NATO operations. In response, Germany said it would close a Russian consulate as part of its retaliation against the Kremlin.
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According to reporting, Iran is developing supersonic cruise missiles with covert Russian backing for anti-ship and land-attack purposes. Rosoboronexport, Russia's state arms exporter, coordinated the effort with the US-sanctioned NPO Mashinostroyenia beginning in 2023, with Russian engineers making repeated visits to Iran that year under the program designation C430L.
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The Ukrainian president cautioned commercial carriers against flying through Russian airspace, saying Ukrainian drones would remain active in Russian skies while the war continues. Putin responded by saying one does not negotiate with terrorists. Ukraine has intensified strikes in Russia and occupied territories in recent months, targeting logistics depots, oil sites and port facilities.
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Moscow has covertly supported Tehran's supersonic cruise missile program
According to reporting, Iran is developing supersonic cruise missiles with covert Russian backing for anti-ship and land-attack purposes. Rosoboronexport, Russia's state arms exporter, coordinated the effort with the US-sanctioned NPO Mashinostroyenia beginning in 2023, with Russian engineers making repeated visits to Iran that year under the program designation C430L.

Archive photo · Velzev34 · CC BY-SA 3.0 France announced the UN Security Council will vote this month on renewing the mandate of a panel that monitors sanctions on Iran. Russia and China, which oppose the sanctions regime and oversight mechanisms, have signaled they may veto the renewal before the panel's mandate expires on Sept. 26.
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Putin said a 40-day Ukrainian strike campaign that began in June damaged about 100 Russian ships and cost Russia 1% of GDP. Russian forces now control Svyatogorsk in Donetsk, and Putin's foreign policy adviser is set to discuss humanitarian issues in the conflict with a papal envoy later this month.
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Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas on September 1, killing at least 12 people, including six railway workers who died when a missile hit a depot and other rail facilities. The strike was part of a days-long bombardment in which Russia fired ballistic and cruise missiles along with 218 drones, of which Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or suppressed 199.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned airlines and travelers that Russian airspace poses safety risks due to Ukrainian drone activity throughout the conflict. He indicated that such operations will persist across Russian territory.
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Berlin has attributed last month's explosive-laden drone incident at a strategic airport to Moscow and is responding with diplomatic measures. The closures include Russia's consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin, though Vladimir Putin dismissed the actions as a mistake.
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Zelenskyy tells airlines Russian airspace will remain dangerous from Ukrainian drone operations
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned airlines and travelers that Russian airspace poses safety risks due to Ukrainian drone activity throughout the conflict. He indicated that such operations will persist across Russian territory.

Archive photo · Christophe Licoppe / European Union, 2025 / EC - Audiovisual Service · CC BY 4.0 Several European Union member states are open to accelerating funds for Ukraine under a €90 billion loan arrangement, Ireland's defence minister announced Tuesday following a gathering of EU counterparts. Ukraine's defence minister has sought to move forward €45 billion in payments originally due in 2027, citing shortfalls in financing for the country's defence against Russian forces.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that economic cooperation between Washington and Moscow will remain impossible as long as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. Siluanov was excluded from the "family photo" of finance ministers at the G20 meeting.
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Russia strikes Kyiv rail network, killing at least 12 in overnight barrage
Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas on September 1, killing at least 12 people, including six railway workers who died when a missile hit a depot and other rail facilities. The strike was part of a days-long bombardment in which Russia fired ballistic and cruise missiles along with 218 drones, of which Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or suppressed 199.
Boris Titov, Putin's international development envoy, warned the Russian economy risks going "berserk" if run entirely to serve military-industrial needs. Titov said such a mode cannot persist beyond a brief window and warrants careful consideration. At 0.4% growth projected for this year, many non-military sectors face stagnation or contraction.
A blaze swept through a WB Electronics facility in Skarzysko-Kamienna early Monday, with Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski calling it likely sabotage. The drone manufacturer supplies equipment to Ukraine, and prosecutors are examining whether foreign intelligence agencies deliberately set the fire, which inflicted damage valued at 15 million zlotys.
EU nations consider speeding up disbursement of €90 billion Ukraine loan package
Several European Union member states are open to accelerating funds for Ukraine under a €90 billion loan arrangement, Ireland's defence minister announced Tuesday following a gathering of EU counterparts. Ukraine's defence minister has sought to move forward €45 billion in payments originally due in 2027, citing shortfalls in financing for the country's defence against Russian forces.

Archive photo · Bogdan Hoyaux · CC BY 4.0 - Key moment
Twelve people died in Russian air strikes on Kyiv and its region on September 1, with dozens more wounded, officials reported. The assault marked six consecutive days of heavy attacks on Ukraine's capital, injuring three children as the school year begins, while Moscow deploys jet-powered drone swarms for round-the-clock strikes.
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Russia's finance minister Anton Siluanov attended a G20 finance meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, drawing criticism from European officials. Valdis Dombrovskis, the European commissioner for economy, said it is not the moment to normalize Russia's presence at such gatherings.
Putin envoy warns Russian economy risks going 'berserk' on war footing
Boris Titov, Putin's international development envoy, warned the Russian economy risks going "berserk" if run entirely to serve military-industrial needs. Titov said such a mode cannot persist beyond a brief window and warrants careful consideration. At 0.4% growth projected for this year, many non-military sectors face stagnation or contraction.

Archive photo · Пресс-служба Президента РФ · CC BY 4.0 Weeks after its previous ambassador departed London, Russia said Tuesday it would announce a replacement when the time came. The Kremlin views the appointment as President Vladimir Putin's decision and not subject to public discussion.
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Russia attacked port facilities and a border crossing with Romania in Ukraine's Odesa region overnight, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday. Zelenskiy said the strike deliberately damaged export infrastructure. Ukraine's emergency service reported the attack also struck power systems and ignited a fire at a residential building, injuring one person.
Polish drone maker hit by fire suspected of sabotage, minister says
A blaze swept through a WB Electronics facility in Skarzysko-Kamienna early Monday, with Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski calling it likely sabotage. The drone manufacturer supplies equipment to Ukraine, and prosecutors are examining whether foreign intelligence agencies deliberately set the fire, which inflicted damage valued at 15 million zlotys.

Illustration · VoidWanderer · CC BY-SA 4.0 - Key moment
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed Vladimir Putin to end Russia's war in Ukraine at a meeting in Kyrgyzstan during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Modi said each day of conflict pushes humanity backward, while progress toward peace offers hope. Putin appeared visibly tense, his feet tapping throughout the opening moments.
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At least 12 people were killed in and around Kyiv overnight as Russian drone and missile attacks continued for a sixth consecutive night. Eight of the dead were in Kyiv, including seven at a railway depot on the city's left bank, with four more in the surrounding region. Zelenskyy said Moscow was capitalising on a shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors to lower morale in the capital.