Russian drone killed a couple and their two children in Sumy Oblast; the mother was pregnant with twins

A Russian drone strike overnight on Sept. 29–30 killed an entire family in the village of Chernechchyna, Sumy Oblast. The victims were a young couple, Alyona and Oleksandr, and their two sons, aged six and four.

Local officials and neighbors said the family had recently moved from Krasnopillia after their house there was damaged by shelling, settling in Alyona’s parents’ home. Reports noted that Alyona, 26, had been pregnant with twins. The strike completely destroyed the house, leaving only ruins, with children’s clothes still hanging in the garden.

The regional prosecutor’s office said the attack occurred around 2:40 a.m., and emergency workers later pulled the family’s bodies from the rubble. Authorities confirmed that Russian forces had deliberately targeted the home. Law enforcement has opened a war crimes investigation under Article 438.2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

Hungary begins to block Ukrainian news websites following government ban

Hungarian internet providers have started restricting access to Ukrainian media outlets recently banned by the Hungarian government.

The restrictions began on Sept. 29 with fixed-line providers and continued on Sept. 30 with mobile operators. Some sites have already been blocked, while others remain accessible. For example, readers have reported that Ukrainska Pravda can still be reached.

Zelenskyy gives update on initiative for procuring US weapons

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that six NATO countries have already financed four defense aid packages for Ukraine worth over $2 billion under the PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) initiative, with another six nations ready to contribute.

The first $578 million package was funded by the Netherlands, while Denmark, Norway, and Sweden provided $495 million for the second. Germany contributed $500 million for the third package, and Canada announced a fourth worth the same amount. Deliveries of the first two packages began in mid-September, and the U.S., along with Canada and Germany, has finalized the contents of the third and fourth. Zelensky emphasized that the initiative enables Ukraine to acquire U.S. weapons, including Patriot and HIMARS missiles, using NATO partners’ funds.

He added that Washington is currently coordinating the fifth and sixth packages with Kyiv, while preparations are underway for additional ones. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Iceland have already expressed readiness to fund the fifth package. Ukraine hopes to expand the program in October, targeting an additional $1 billion in aid each month.