Key Events on Day 1,288 of Russia’s War in Ukraine
This is a summary of the main events on Thursday, September 4, in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine:
Fighting
- Russian forces conducted 408 attacks in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region, resulting in the death of a 62-year-old man in the Polohy district.
- A Russian attack in Khmelnytskyi, western Ukraine, claimed the life of one man.
- At least 35 people were injured in Ukraine due to Russian attacks on Wednesday, with 14 injured in the Donetsk area and another 14 in Kherson.
- According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, its forces intercepted 170 Ukrainian drones, five guided aerial bombs, and two rockets within 24 hours.
- Ukraine’s air force reported having shot down 430 Russian drones and 21 missiles.
- Ukrainian drone strikes in Russia’s Kursk region killed a 52-year-old man while a Russian drone attack left nearly 30,000 homes without power in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region.
- Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed to have captured about half of the city of Kupiansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, a claim dismissed by Ukraine’s 10th Army Corps.
Peace Deal
- Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Moscow, following a request by former US President Donald Trump.
- Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected Putin’s invitation, calling it an “unacceptable” proposal.
- Despite Putin’s offer, there are “serious proposals” from seven countries to host talks between the two leaders, which Ukraine stands ready for at any time.
- French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the completion of “preparatory work” on post-war security guarantees for Ukraine and stated that European allies are ready to offer these guarantees upon the signing of a peace deal with Russia.
- Macron met with Zelenskyy at the Elysée Palace in Paris ahead of a meeting with leaders of the “coalition of the willing” group of nations that support Kyiv.
Regional Security
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un affirmed his country’s commitment to support Russia and its military, citing a defense treaty between the two countries.
- US President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of increasing the US troop presence in Poland and assured the country’s defense during his meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki.
Image: French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysée Palace in Paris on September 3, 2025. (Teresa Suarez/Pool via AP Photo)
