Russia attacked a thermal power generation facility in Kyiv Oblast

Russia launched a massive overnight strike on a thermal power plant in Kyiv Oblast, targeting Ukraine’s energy system in an attempt to plunge civilians into darkness and cold. The Ministry of Energy condemned the attack, stressing that homes, hospitals, schools, and kindergartens—not military sites—were the intended victims.

Ukrainian officials and media reports said Russian drones struck the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant in the town of Ukrainka, causing blackouts in parts of Kyiv Oblast and some districts of the capital. The strike is part of Moscow’s broader campaign against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, aimed at worsening daily hardships for millions of civilians.

Emergency crews and energy workers are racing to restore power and assess the damage. The Ministry of Energy said it will provide updates as recovery efforts continue.

Sanctions are not working: Russia earned 1.2 billion on metal imports to the European Union

Between January and June 2025, the European Union imported 2.95 million tons of Russian metal products, a 2.7% increase compared to the same period last year. The shipments, valued at €1.22 billion, highlight the bloc’s ongoing dependence on Russian industrial goods despite the full-scale war in Ukraine.

Most of the imports consisted of semi-finished steel (1.84 million tons) and cast iron (697,000 tons). Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Denmark were the leading buyers of Russian metal. In 2024, EU purchases totaled roughly €2.5 billion.

Ukrainian officials continue to warn that Russia’s metallurgical industry is a direct lifeline for Moscow’s war machine, urging Brussels to close loopholes and impose tougher restrictions on the trade.

The Government building was hit by Iskander cluster missile

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová confirmed on Sept. 8 that the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv was struck by a Russian Iskander ballistic missile, describing the attack as a direct strike on the heart of Ukraine’s government.

“I saw it with my own eyes,” Mathernová wrote after visiting the site with other diplomats. “The missile that hit the Cabinet of Ministers was aimed right there. We were shown large fragments of the Iskander, along with shrapnel from the cluster munitions it carried.”

According to the ambassador, the missile failed to fully detonate, preventing the building from being leveled. Fire crews managed to contain the blaze to three floors, stopping it from consuming the entire structure. “This is the time for allies to step up, to massively increase pressure on Russia, and to give Ukraine what it needs to protect its skies,” she said.