Live blog Ukrainian war:
Drone alarm in Kyiv during the Chancellor's visit
Oct 4, 2026, 10:31am Reading time: 1 min.
Friedrich Merz in Kyiv on SundayDaniel Pilar
Bridge hit by Russian drone +++ US think tank: Russia loses more territory than it gains +++ Governing party clearly wins parliamentary election in Latvia +++ all news in the live blog
You can also find all texts, background information and comments on the war in Ukraine on our special page.
Fabian Drahmoune
US think tank contradicts Putin: Russia will lose territory in September
Russia lost more ground in Ukraine than it gained in September, according to an analysis by the US Institute for War Studies (ISW). The institute announced on the X platform that the loss was around 81 square kilometers. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's claims about Russian gains in territory on the front in September are so far from reality "that they seem like hallucinations."
The ISW could not judge whether Putin knew that the figures he presented were wrong, it said. It could also be that he provides “fictitious information about the situation at the front”. The “culture of lying” is deeply rooted in the Russian military leadership. Putin claimed that Russian forces had conquered more than 1,300 square kilometers in September.
A few days ago, Putin announced the complete conquest of the Ukrainian Donbas region in less than a year and a half. He assumes that this will happen much sooner given the advance of Russian troops. However, the front line has remained largely unchanged in many sections for several months.
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Drone alarm in Kyiv during the Chancellor's visit
According to authorities, a bridge in the Ukrainian capital was attacked by at least one Russian drone during the visit of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to Kiev on Sunday. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that “the North Bridge road” had been hit and “emergency services are on the way.” He had already reported a drone alarm early in the morning. Debris from a downed flying object fell onto the roof of a residential building. Merz arrived in Kiev for a visit in the morning despite new warnings from Moscow.
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned foreigners and diplomats on Saturday against visiting Kiev and called on them to leave the city. Anyone who ignores the warning puts themselves at “mortal danger” from “massive” Russian air strikes.
Other parts of Ukraine also raised air alerts about Russian attacks. In the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, authorities reported five people injured after an attack with a Russian glide bomb. She smashed into a residential building.
You can read more about the Chancellor's visit to Kyiv here:
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Fabian Drahmoune
Latvia: Governing party clearly wins parliamentary election
In the parliamentary elections in the EU and NATO country Latvia, the electoral alliance United List of the pro-Ukrainian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs surprisingly prevailed. With 35.4 percent of the vote, the center-right group emerged as the clear winner of the vote, as data from the electoral commission in Riga showed after counting information from 94 percent of all polling stations. This meant the party was able to more than triple its result compared to the previous election.
Populist forces also made strong gains in the election, which was dominated by concerns about national security and socio-political problems. The second strongest force is the Latvia party in first place (13.2 percent) ahead of Sovereign Power (11.8 percent). Both are likely to have scored particularly well with voters from the Russian minority. Behind them are the left-wing progressives (7.4 percent).
The central issues in the election campaign for the Baltic state, which borders Russia and its ally Belarus, were security and defense. In addition, socio-political and economic issues also played a major role in the election campaign. Since Latvia is investing heavily in its security, there is a lack of money elsewhere. The health system is suffering, emigration and aging are a problem. Many people complain about high prices and low salaries, and the economy is stalling.
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Fabian Drahmoune
Chancellor Merz arrived in Kyiv
The Chancellor is visiting Kiev for the second time in his term of office: The visit is a crucial piece of the puzzle in the Federal Government's diplomatic choreography in recent weeks.
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Forecast: Latvia's Prime Minister's alliance takes the lead in the election
According to forecasts, the alliance of pro-Ukrainian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is in the lead in the parliamentary elections in Latvia. In the first post-election polls conducted by public broadcaster LSM on Saturday, Kulbergs' centrist “United List” received 35.6 percent of the vote. The “Latvia First” party follows in second place with 11.3 percent. In the run-up to the vote, they had sought the support of the Russian minority in the country.
For the forecast, almost 6,500 voters were asked about their vote. However, the results should be treated with caution: the post-election survey did not always prove to be reliable in previous elections. The first official election results were expected for Sunday.
The election was marked by concerns about possible Russian aggression. The Baltic states have been warning for months that Russia is carrying out hybrid attacks and acts of sabotage in Europe to weaken support for Ukraine and stoke fear. The government in Moscow rejects the allegations from the Baltics as unfounded.
When he cast his vote in the capital Riga, Prime Minister Kulbergs emphasized the security significance of the election. "We must not be the weakest link. We must be strong," said the head of government. The entire eastern flank must show unity. "That's what we're aiming for. We are Europe's external border, which must be strong."
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One dead after Russian attack on freighter in Odessa port
A crew member has been killed after a Russian attack on a freighter in the port of the Ukrainian coastal city of Odessa. Three other sailors were injured in the attack, port authorities said on Telegram. 13 other members of the crew of the freighter flying the Liberian flag were evacuated to a safe location.
The attack was condemned as another targeted attack by Russia on civilian shipping. No information was given about the nationality of the victims. The Russian military, meanwhile, claimed to have attacked and damaged a freighter loaded with military goods in Odessa.
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Russia warns diplomats against further attacks on Kyiv
Russia has once again called on foreigners and employees of diplomatic missions in Kiev to leave the Ukrainian capital in view of impending new attacks. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow said on Saturday that a previous warning had not been heeded by everyone. This means that anyone who stays is exposed to a “mortal danger” from “massive Russian retaliation.”
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Moldova reports impacts from Russian drones
According to official information, Russian drones have landed on Moldovan territory. “Five Russian airstrikes, including Banderol missiles and drones, violated our airspace and exploded on our soil,” wrote Moldovan President Maia Sandu on the X platform.
According to the army, explosions were heard in towns in the southeastern part of Moldova. There was no information about possible victims or damage. However, there was no air alert in the neighboring southern Ukrainian city of Odessa at the times mentioned.
Moldova has now summoned the Russian ambassador. The Foreign Ministry has called on Moscow to prevent such incidents, it said in a statement. President Sandu said the incidents showed that Russia's war in Ukraine was "reaching Moldova." “Moscow is putting lives at risk across Europe and must be stopped,” she said.
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Russia also attacks second Dnipro bridge in Kyiv
Russia also attacked the northern bridge over the Dnipro in the Ukrainian capital Kiev with jet drones. According to official information, the bridge was hit early Saturday morning. The roadway and the overhead line of the trolleybuses were damaged. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the bridge was now closed to traffic. There were initially no reports of victims.
On Thursday and Friday, Russia's jet drone attacks hit the Kiev South Bridge over the Dnipro. In addition to the car lane, the subway area and a bridge pillar were damaged. According to Ukrainian reports, the southern bridge remains closed. Many residents of the Ukrainian capital live east of the river and commute to the west side for work. There were also traffic jams on Saturday after the attack on the north bridge.
Russia is increasingly relying on jet drones in its attacks on Ukraine. “Geran 4” and “Geran 5” models reach speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour. This makes them significantly faster than propeller-driven drones. In many cases, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense system is unable to shoot down aircraft. Ukraine used to be able to intercept 90 percent of Russian drones, but in September it was only 55 percent.
Read here why Russia is now particularly targeting major Ukrainian cities in its war:
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Kallas talks to Leo XIV about the Ukrainian War
The EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met on Friday for talks with Pope Leo XIV in Rome. According to Kallas, the topics were Russia's war against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and urgent humanitarian needs as well as the dangers of social polarization and artificial intelligence.
As Kallas further announced via the online service Bluesky, she thanked the Pope for his advocacy of international law, multilateralism and his “clear voice in defense of human dignity.”
On Monday, during a visit to Metz, France, Leo Europe can put an end to this downward spiral, said the Pope. He highlighted the pluralism within the EU and cited international law and multilateralism as suitable means to prevent conflicts arising from the desire for supremacy.
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For an end to the grain blockade: Wadephul calls for more pressure on Russia
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) is calling for more pressure on Russia to end the blockade of Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea. We have to ensure “that Europe becomes louder on this issue, and secondly that the states of the Global South formulate their interests here even more clearly,” said Wadephul on Friday after talks in the Vatican. “I think there is a serious chance of finding a solution.”
“Time is of the essence, hunger is unfortunately approaching,” said the Foreign Minister. The grain is in danger of spoiling, “and we cannot let that happen,” Wadephul continued. "It would be another completely unnecessary catastrophe. And that's why I won't tire of continuing to work on this issue."
Wadephul had met for talks with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, number two in the Vatican, and the foreign affairs representative, Archbishop Paul Gallagher. Wadephul also spoke about the issue of impending famine in his conversation with his Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last Saturday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting at that time did not produce any tangible results.
Wadephul had already called for a “partial ceasefire” on grain exports on Thursday. Russia could not actually want to jeopardize its relations with the global south. “I therefore believe that the problem of grain exports can be solved,” the Foreign Minister told the Web.de portal.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met the Vatican's foreign affairs representative, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, on Friday. dpa
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Putin: Ukrainian attacks cost Russia one percent of GDP
Russian ruler Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukraine is hurting the Russian economy with its targeted attacks on Russia's oil industry. In his speech at the annual Valdai forum, he described this as the goal of Ukrainian warfare.
"Has the goal been achieved? Partially," Putin said in his speech in Moscow on Thursday. The Moscow warlord said the Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities resulted in the loss of around one percent of Russia's gross domestic product.
In September, several refineries in Russia had to stop or significantly reduce production due to Ukrainian drone attacks. The International Energy Agency recorded a successful attack on a Russian refinery on average every three days in the first eight months of 2026.
In response to the Ukrainian counterattacks, Putin announced that he would attack targets in Ukraine that he considered important to the Ukrainian economy. In his speech, Putin also rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal to stop mutual attacks on energy facilities.
Vladimir Putin on Thursday during his speech at the Valdai forum in Moscow. Reuters
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Sabrina Frangos
Mayor: Russian air strikes hit bridge in Kyiv again
