U.S. clears way for $2.7 billion sale of air-defence development upgrades to Ukraine

U.S. clears way for $2.7 billion sale of air-defence development upgrades to Ukraine
Firefighters work at the site of an office building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine, 18 September 2026.
Reuters

The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours. 

This concludes AnewZ’s live coverage of the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war for today.

Thank you for following. Stay with AnewZ for the latest breaking news, analysis and live coverage as events continue to unfold.

⦿ 20:22 GMT | UPDATE

Slovak PM warns against NATO-Russia conflict over Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned against efforts he said could trigger a direct conflict between NATO and Russia, arguing that some Western politicians were seeking to escalate the war in Ukraine.

Fico said Slovakia would not support being drawn into what he described as an “irresponsible military adventure”, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war was “not our Slovak war”.

He also said any NATO member seeking to provoke a conflict with Russia should bear responsibility for that decision rather than shifting it onto other members of the alliance.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a press conference at Bratislava Castle, Bratislava, Slovakia, 10 September 2026.
Rreuters
⦿ 19:14 GMT | UPDATE

Türkiye awaits Russia, Ukraine response to Black Sea proposal

Reuters

Türkiye has presented Russia and Ukraine with a proposal aimed at ending fighting in the Black Sea and is awaiting responses from both sides, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.

Fidan said the immediate priority was ensuring grain could be exported from the region.

He added that broader initiatives to end the war were also under way, although reaching a lasting settlement remained difficult at this stage.

⦿ 12:42 GMT | UPDATE

Zelenskyy indicates Ukraine could modify foreign fighter rules 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested Kyiv could modify rules governing the recruitment of foreign fighters so that "everyone who feels that our defence of Ukraine’s independence has global significance should be given a fair opportunity to prove themselves and receive the respect they deserve."

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said he had discussed approaches to hiring volunteers from abroad with Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's army, Mykhailo Drapatyi. 

⦿ 12:32 GMT | UPDATE

Ukraine says it struck Russian drone control points 

Ukraine hit Russian drone control points in multiple locations in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, southeast Ukraine, over the past two nights, the country's Defence Ministry has said in a post on X.

⦿ 08:55 GMT | UPDATE

Russia unaware of possibility U.S. might want to do business before Ukraine war ends, RIA reports 

Reuters

Russia is not aware of the possibility that Washington may want to sign deals with Moscow before the Ukraine conflict is over, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA state news agency on Saturday.

The New York Times reported this week, citing two people close to the peace talks, that the White House is now considering signing business deals with Russia before it stops fighting in Ukraine.

“I don't know anything about such signals, and it would be strange to receive them, because we still hear exactly the opposite stance, namely, 'Let's agree on Ukraine and move forward, and everything else later,'” Ryabkov told RIA.

“Everything else, as they say, will be attached. This also applies to economic aspects, economic projects, too.”

⦿ 08:41 GMT | UPDATE

Russia's online voting system hit by cyberattack 

Reuters

Russia's online voting system was hit by a strong cyberattack overnight, Russian news agency Interfax has reported, citing the head of the country's Central Election Commission.

The attacks were continuing but all were being successfully repelled, Ella Pamfilova was reported as saying.

Russians began voting on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin votes online in the parliamentary election in Moscow, Russia, 18 September 2026.
Reuters

⦿ 08:38 GMT | UPDATE

Poland's army concludes military aviation operations 

Poland has concluded preventative military aviation operations related to Russian strikes on Ukraine, the Polish army has said on X. 

“Ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance have returned to standard operational activities,” it said in a post on X. 

⦿ 08:23 GMT | UPDATE

Poland starts preventative military aviation operations, army says 

Reuters

Poland started preventative military aviation operations to protect its airspace on Saturday amid Russian strikes on Ukraine, the Polish army said in a post on X.

The military activated a state of readiness for ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance systems, it added.

⦿ 08:20 GMT | UPDATE

Russia hits Ukrainian ships and port, Interfax reports

Reuters

Russian forces struck a Ukrainian cargo ship and a tanker located in the Black Sea and in one of Ukraine's ports, the Interfax news agency has reported, citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

⦿ 07:45 GMT | UPDATE

Russia attacks western Ukrainian region, Governor says  

Russia struck the Khmelnytskyi region in western Ukraine early on Saturday, triggering a fire at a building, local authorities said on Telegram.

There were no reports of injuries or deaths and two drones were shot down, Serhii Tiurin, Head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration added. 

⦿ 07:34 GMT | UPDATE

Two killed after Russian glide bomb hits block of flats in northeast Ukraine 

A Russian glide bomb hit a nine-storey apartment block in Sumy, northeast Ukraine, late on Friday, killing two people and injureing eight others, Mayor Artem Kobzar said, Ukrainian newspaper the Kyiv Post reported. 

The deaths mean that at least 10 people have been killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past 24 hours, according to authorities. 

⦿ 06:45 GMT | UPDATE

Russian attacks on Ukraine kill eight people in past 24 hours 

At least eight people have been killed and 33 others injured in Russian attacks in Ukraine's Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions, regional authorities said in posts on Telegram.

In Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, five people were killed and 15 injured in attacks on 15 areas of the region, Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, said.

Aftermath of a strike on Kharkiv, northeast Ukraine, 19 September 2026.
Oleh Syniehubov, Telegram

In Donetsk, southeast Ukraine, one person was killed and 13 wounded, Vadym Filashkin, Governor of the Dontesk region said. 

The Kherson Regional Administration said two people were killed and five injured in Russian attacks, while five apartment blocks and seven private houses were damaged. 

⦿ 05:17 GMT | UPDATE

Putin says Ukraine interfering in Russia election

Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine was deliberately hindering talks aimed at ending the 4 1/2-year-old war and accused Kyiv of interfering in Russia's parliamentary election.

Putin, in comments to Russia's Military-Industrial commission, also reasserted Moscow's main defence aim of relying on its “nuclear triad” of weapons and said Moscow also had to move towards improving its anti-missile defences.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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⦿ 04:20 GMT | UPDATE

Zelenskyy thanks Trump for Russia sanctions bill

Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy early on Saturday thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for signing the Russia sanctions bill and members of Congress for supporting it and ensuring its passage.

“The best way to honour Lindsey's memory would be to implement the provisions of this law fully and as quickly as possible,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the lawmaker who championed the bill, the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

⦿ 04:16 GMT | UPDATE

U.S. approves air defence sale to Ukraine

Reuters

The U.S. State Department approved a potential $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air defence upgrades, equipment and related services.

Ukraine would finance the purchase through European contributions and U.S. Foreign Military Financing allocated under former President Joe Biden, if the deal is concluded.

The package includes missiles, air defence systems, launcher modifications and counter-drone radars, but remains subject to congressional review. The approval comes as U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new Russia sanctions bill into law, increasing economic pressure on Moscow.

⦿ 03:56 GMT | UPDATE

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