The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
The aftermath of a Russian drone strike on a residential building in Kyiv overnight on Sept. 7, 2025. The attack killed at least two people, including a 1-year-old baby, and injured 13 others. (Ukraine’s State Emergency Service/Telegram)
At least 2 killed, including infant, 13 injured in Kyiv amid Russian drone, missile attacks on residential buildings. Russia launched hundreds of attack drones towards Ukrainian cities overnight on Sept. 6-7, striking multiple residential buildings in Kyiv, officials reported.
‘He can come to Kyiv’ — Zelensky mocks Putin’s Moscow invitation. “I can’t go to Moscow when my country’s under missiles, under attack, each day. I can’t go to the capital of this terrorist,” President Volodymyr Zelensky told ABC News.
Ukraine detains fugitive lawmaker suspected of collaboration with Russia. The Kyiv Independent’s law enforcement source identified the suspect as Fedir Khrystenko, a 41-year-old lawmaker and a former member of the now-banned pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform — For Life.
Trump signals support for security guarantees for Ukraine, stresses Europe’s role. “Europe will be first in by far, and they want to be first, and they want to see it end,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.
Russia preparing ‘decisive breakthrough‘ near Pokrovsk, Ukrainian military says. Russian troops near Pokrovsk are attempting to secure new positions and expand the boundaries of the “gray zone,” according to Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces.
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Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Russia’s Ilsky Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai, media reports. Ukrainian drones reportedly struck a major oil refinery in the Russian region of Krasnodar Krai overnight on Sept. 7, Russian Telegram channels reported.
Nearly 60% of Ukrainian forces’ weapons domestically produced, Zelensky says. “During this war, Ukraine has already reached the level where nearly 60% of the weapons we have, weapons in the hands of our warriors, are Ukrainian-made, and they are strong weapons, many of them cutting-edge,” Zelensky said in his evening address.
Nearly 700,000 Russian military personnel deployed in Ukraine, intelligence says. There are currently close to 700,000 Russian service members deployed in Ukraine, including National Guard, special forces, and support units, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) spokesperson Andrii Yusov said on Sept. 5.
Russia can produce up to 2,700 Shahed-type drones per month, intelligence says. Moscow has “increased the production of Geran-2s,” HUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov said, referring to Russian variants of Iranian-made Shaheds.
Russia airdrops fake banknotes in Ukraine, seeking collaborators. Leaflets in the form of 100-hryvnia banknotes offered real money in exchange for coordinates of Ukrainian forces, the police said.
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Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week
This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights’ public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from September 8-14. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week.
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Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian drone strikes in Zaporizhzhia injure 15, destroy kindergarten. Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhia with drones on Sept. 6, injuring 15 people and destroying a kindergarten, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said.
First taste of village life | Dare to Ukraine: Village Ep. 2
International response
Lithuania to sound sirens during drone incursions after Russian UAV crash. The measure is part of new response procedures approved last week and comes after two Russian Gerbera drones, one of which was armed, crashed in the Baltic country in July after entering from Belarus.
Trump says he’d ‘love’ to host Putin, Xi at next year’s G20 summit in US. When asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to join the G20 summit in Miami, Trump said he would “love them to if they want to.”
Polish farmers hold another Ukraine border blockade amid heightened tensions. Polish protesters have stopped blocking trucks at the Medyka crossing by 3:30 p.m. Kyiv time, Ukrainian Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko told Ukrainska Pravda.
Reuters withdraws Putin-Xi immortality video after Chinese legal objections. Reuters on Sept. 5 withdrew a video in which Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were shown discussing whether humans could live to 150 years old, after China’s state broadcaster revoked permission to use the footage.
Fico says Putin interested in meeting Zelensky outside Moscow, as Russian leader contradicts. Putin seemingly contradicted Fico on Sept. 3, a day after his meeting with the Slovak leader, again inviting Zelensky to Moscow for a meeting. Days later on Sept. 5, Putin said that he “doesn’t see much point” in a meeting with the Ukrainian president.
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