Key events on day 1,301 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
Published On 17 Sep 2025
Here is the situation on Wednesday, September 17:
Fighting
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had launched over 3,500 drones and nearly 190 missiles against Ukraine in September, calling it an ‘aerial terror’ operation.
- Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia, killing a 41-year-old man, injuring at least 18, and triggering fires, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
- One person was killed in Mykolaiv, two in Kharkiv, and several other cities experienced attacks from over 100 Russian drones.
- Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its drones hit a gas distribution station serving the Ukrainian military in the Sumy region, describing it as a key facility used by Ukrainian forces.
- Ukraine’s military reported striking the Saratov oil refinery in Russia, causing explosions and a fire but no immediate casualties or infrastructure damage.
- The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency reported shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with black smoke observed but no immediate damage or casualties.
- Transneft, Russia’s state-owned oil pipeline company, warned producers of potential output cuts following drone attacks on critical export infrastructure, attributing this to the West’s ‘information war’ against Russia.
Military
- The US approved its first military aid packages for Ukraine under a new financial agreement, with shipments of up to $500m worth of weapons.
- Poland will decide on its submarine procurement this week, aiming to purchase three new submarines to boost its military capabilities in response to Russia’s threat.
- Russia and Belarus rehearsed the launch of Russian tactical nuclear weapons as part of joint military exercises, including the Oreshnik hypersonic missile.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin observed the conclusion of these drills, which also featured soldiers from India, Iran, Bangladesh, and several African countries.
- The Pentagon confirmed US military officials observed the exercises, marking the first such attendance since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Politics and diplomacy
- Trump congratulated Indian PM Narendra Modi on his birthday and appreciated India’s efforts to help stop Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- US-funded research identified over 210 sites where Russian authorities are training Ukrainian children for military service, manufacturing drones, and forced re-education.
- Canadian Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland will leave cabinet to become Canada’s special representative for Ukrainian reconstruction, a role that reflects her Ukrainian heritage and Canada’s sanctions policy against Russia.
- Russia is hoping to schedule a new round of talks with US officials later this year to address issues in bilateral relations, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
Sanctions
- The European Commission plans to propose accelerating the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports, initially set for January 1, 2028, following a call with Trump.
Economy
- Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev described his country’s draft 2026 budget as a ‘wartime’ budget and called for maintaining social spending, including support for veterans, without sacrificing financial balance. Russia’s defence and national security spending is projected to reach $204bn in 2025, the highest since the Cold War.
Regional security
- A Ukrainian man accused of coordinating attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines plans to appeal his potential extradition from Italy to Germany after an Italian court ordered his transfer.
