Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
Read below for the latest developments from Russia’s war in Ukraine on Wednesday, September 2.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns drone surge is making Russian airspace unsafe for civil aviation
- Zelenskyy also says Germany and Ukraine are finalizing a drone deal
- Two civilians reported killed in Russian attacks on central Ukrainian city of Dnipro
Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google.
Skip next section Pressure on Russia to grow, EU foreign policy chief says09/02/2026September 2, 2026
Pressure on Russia to grow, EU foreign policy chief says
The European Union‘s foreign policy head Kaja Kallas said the bloc is interested in tightening the enforcement of sanctions against Russia.
The move should also come with increasing pressure on Moscow, as well as increasing support for Ukraine.
“Attempts to intimidate Europe will fail,” Kallas said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KahASkip next section Childrens’ hospice founder arrested after war criticism09/02/2026September 2, 2026
Childrens’ hospice founder arrested after war criticism
The founder of a Russianchildren’s hospice has been detained and charged with deliberately spreading false information about the war in Ukraine.
Lida Moniava, who is known for her engagement for sick children, took to Telegram to call the war a crime and said it must end.
According to Russian investigators, Moniava posted false information “presented as credible reports” about the Russian army’s actions against civilian population in Ukraine.
The childrens’ hospice Moniava founded in Moscow said it will continue to operate as usual, without adding further information.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5Ka9HSkip next section EU summons Russian envoy over failed Leipzig attack09/02/2026September 2, 2026
EU summons Russian envoy over failed Leipzig attack
The European Union’s foreign policy head Kaja Kallas summoned the Russian envoy in Brussels following Germany’s announcement that Russia was behind the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport last month.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5KXJoSkip next section WATCH: Why are books becoming a casualty of war in Ukraine?09/02/2026September 2, 2026
WATCH: Why are books becoming a casualty of war in Ukraine?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5KWzWSkip next section Ukraine says Russian airspace ‘not safe’ amid drone surge09/02/2026September 2, 2026
Ukraine says Russian airspace ‘not safe’ amid drone surge
Kyiv says it has formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Russian airspace is “not safe” as a result of increasing Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
Ukraine has also asked the UN agency to prohibit member countries from using Russian airspace, according to a government letter to the ICAO cited by Reuters.
It came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines to stay away.
“We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia’s skies are over,” Zelenskyy said.
“Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation,” he added. “The sky over Russia is currently for drones … as long as the war continues.”
Last week, Zelenskyy threatened to deploy up to 1,000 long-range drones per day.
The ICAO has not commented on the request from Ukraine.
Russia‘s aviation watchdog regularly closes airports in response to the Ukrainian drones. Ukraine’s airspace has been closed since the war started in 2022.
While European and US carriers do not fly over Russia due to the conflict, the airspace is used by other airlines from China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.
Russia has stepped up its strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. Ukraine has responded with long-range drone strikes on Russian energy and military infrastructure.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KTMdSkip next section Kyiv under attack for 7th straight day, 2 civilians killed in Dnipro09/02/2026September 2, 2026
Kyiv under attack for 7th straight day, 2 civilians killed in Dnipro
Russian drones hit central Kyiv for a seventh day in a row on Wednesday, injuring seven people and damaging residential and university buildings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The attack on a downtown university forced some 160 people to take shelter, he added.
Also on Wednesday, Russia struck electricity facilities in the southern Odesa region, knocking out power to more than 350,000 homes, authorities said.
Two people were also killed and eight wounded in Russian strikes on the southeastern city of Dnipro, officials said.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia fired 174 attack drones, as well as two ballistic missiles and two plane-launched missiles at Ukraine overnight.
Meanwhile, Russia said its air defenses destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Wednesday killed two people in Russia’s Belgorod border region and wounded 16 more, officials said.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5KVFVSkip next section Ukraine and Germany close to inking drone deal, Zelenskyy says 09/02/2026September 2, 2026
Ukraine and Germany close to inking drone deal, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine is close to finalizing a drone deal with Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday after a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“This will, among other things, certainly enhance the defense capabilities of both Germany and Ukraine,” the Ukrainian president wrote on Telegram.
The agreement, initially proposed by Ukraine several months ago, is expected to involve the joint development of several types of drones, missiles and related software.
Zelenskyy thanked Germany and said he would meet with the chancellor to sign the deal in person.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KTqoSkip next section Welcome to our coverage09/02/2026September 2, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Natalie Muller | Elizabeth Schumacher Editor
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned airlines to avoid Russian airspace amid a surge in Ukrainian drone activity.
Kyiv formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace was “not safe.”
Moscow, in response, said it was improving flight safety and would not allow Ukraine to seriously disrupt aviation.
More than four years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the two countries continue to trade daily strikes.
Russian attacks on Wednesday killed two civilians and wounded six in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, local officials said, while the capital Kyiv was targeted for a seventh day in a row.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he held a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and that their two countries were close to finalizing a drone deal.
We’ll be following these developments, along with other key events in Russia’s war against Ukraine, throughout the day in this blog.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KRrvShow more posts
