Key events on Day 1,306 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Fighting

• A Ukrainian drone strike resulted in three fatalities and 16 injuries near Foros on Crimea, as reported by Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of Crimea.
• Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated the drone attack utilized “strike drones equipped with high-explosive payloads” in a civilian area lacking military targets.
• In a separate incident, a drone strike on a gas station in Pervomaisk, Luhansk region, claimed two Ukrainian lives, as confirmed by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.
• Anna Soroka, a human rights commissioner in Luhansk, accused Ukraine of intentionally targeting gas stations amid fuel shortages, according to TASS.
• In additional attacks, one person died in a strike on Russia’s Belgorod region, while another incident in Zaporizhia resulted in one death and three critical injuries.
• Ukrainian forces targeted the Saratov Oil Refinery, causing several fires and explosions as part of their ongoing operations.

Regional Security

• Germany’s air force deployed two Eurofighter jets to track a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, entering neutral airspace.
• This follows numerous reports from Estonia, Poland, and Romania about similar incursions by Russian military aircraft.
• Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address Russia’s violations of its airspace.
• A NATO North Atlantic Council meeting to discuss Estonia’s airspace violations is scheduled for Tuesday.
• Responding to potential intensification of hostilities, U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed support for defending EU countries against Russia.

Politics and Diplomacy

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet with Trump this week amid heightened diplomatic activity during the UN General Assembly.
• French President Emmanuel Macron defended the legality of using frozen Russian assets, cautioning that confiscation could lead to “total chaos.”
• In a response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova threatened severe countermeasures against any such confiscation of assets.
• Colonel General Alexander Lapin, a senior Russian commander during the early phase of the conflict, has reportedly been dismissed from military service.

Conclusion

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains intense as of September 22, 2025, with ongoing military actions and diplomatic engagements shaping the current landscape. Both military and political developments continue to unfold, underscoring the complexity of this prolonged conflict.