Ukraine Reports New Russian Attacks After US Envoy Talks

Following talks with US envoys, Kyiv has reported new Russian attacks. This live blog from Süddeutsche Zeitung details the latest events in the ongoing conflict.

Key Updates:

• Emergency Averted: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Restored to Power: Power supply to the frontline Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been restored after nearly three weeks. A damaged line was repaired during a limited ceasefire, a crucial step in preventing a nuclear accident. The plant requires a stable power supply to cool radioactive material.
• Witkoff and Kushner Arrive in Kyiv: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Kyiv to discuss an end to the Ukraine war. They previously met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, with the Kremlin describing the meeting as constructive. This is their first visit to Kyiv.
• Kremlin Calls Trump Envoy Visit an 'Important Peace Visit': New talks concerning the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine between Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have concluded in Moscow. Concrete plans for the next steps in the talks were discussed and are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The Kremlin called the meeting 'useful' and 'constructive'.
• Russia Halts Attacks on Kyiv for Three Days: While US envoys were visiting Moscow, Ukraine announced it would not endanger Russian airspace. Russian President Vladimir Putin has subsequently ordered a three-day halt to air attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, effective from Sunday morning.
• Selenskyy: Russia Shells Kyiv Airports Ahead of US Visit: Just before the expected visit of US envoys to Kyiv, Russian forces, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shelled the capital's airports. The airports of Zhuliany and Boryspil were demonstratively attacked for the first time in a while, he wrote on social media. Zelenskyy suggested Moscow was attempting to create uncertainty before the Americans' arrival.
• Selenskyy: Kushner and Witkoff to Visit Kyiv on Sunday: According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected in Kyiv on Sunday. The visit will take place under the protection of the locally declared and three-day ceasefire.

Details of recent events:

• Following Talks with US Envoys: Kyiv Reports New Russian Attacks: After a brief ceasefire during the visit of US President Donald Trump's envoys to Ukraine, Russia has resumed its air attacks on Kyiv. Overnight, explosions were reported from the Ukrainian capital, with several residential buildings, warehouses, a school, and cars damaged in the missile and drone attacks, according to local media citing authorities. Fires broke out in several districts, with at least two dead and seven injured. The full extent of the attacks and damage was unclear in the morning. Air raid sirens were also triggered in other regions of Ukraine, some far behind the front lines. The air defense in neighboring Poland was placed on alert, according to the military. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and the US President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, visited Moscow again over the weekend and then Kyiv for the first time, negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on possible solutions to end the war. The warring parties agreed to refrain from air attacks on their respective capitals during the US envoys' visit. No results were announced.
• Britain Pledges Air Defense Package to Ukraine: Britain is supporting Ukraine with an additional air defense package for the upcoming winter, worth £100 million (approximately €117 million). This will include Patriot air defense missiles, among other systems, according to the UK government. The aim is to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities against Russian attacks.
• Russia: Several Injured in Ukrainian Drone Attack on Saratov: During a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Saratov on the Volga River, civilian infrastructure was hit, and several people were injured, according to regional governor Roman Busargin on Telegram. The Saratov region hosts a large oil refinery operated by the state-owned oil company Rosneft, as well as other industrial and military facilities.
• Ukrainian Prosecutor General Announces Resignation: Ukrainian Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko has announced his resignation in connection with a corruption scandal within his office. He stated on Telegram that it was a political decision and he did not want the Prosecutor General's office to be misused as a tool for political disputes. He reiterated his stance on the allegations, which he has repeatedly denied. Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that Kravchenko had initially rejected the idea of resignation, stating he could only be dismissed. According to Ukrinform, special investigators uncovered a criminal organization led by a department head in the Prosecutor General's office, allegedly accepting bribes. Kravchenko denied any involvement.
• Emergency Averted: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Restored to Power: The urgently needed power supply to the frontline Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia has been restored after almost three weeks. During a limited ceasefire, a damaged line was repaired, as announced by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. This is a crucial step in preventing a nuclear accident, said IAEA head Rafael Grossi. The Russian-occupied nuclear power plant requires a stable power supply to cool radioactive material. The last remaining power line to the plant was damaged on August 20 during combat operations. Since then, emergency generators have been used for power, but the diesel fuel for these units has been running low in recent days. Without the repair of the power line, a blackout at the nuclear facility could have occurred, according to the IAEA. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe came under Russian control shortly after the outbreak of the Ukraine war. Its six reactors are currently shut down and are not producing electricity. Before the conflict, the plant had ten external power lines to supply, among other things, the cooling systems.
• Zelenskyy Says He Hopes for Negotiations Before Winter: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sees a potential window for peace negotiations before winter following the recent visit of US envoys to Moscow and Kyiv. While Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin anticipates a brutal winter to weaken Ukraine, he does not want to anger US President Donald Trump before the midterm elections in early November, Zelenskyy told Axios. "My gut tells me that Putin needs Trump, he doesn't want to upset him." Putin and Zelenskyy received US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over the weekend for talks on a possible resumption of peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. No specific results were announced. Zelenskyy only mentioned possible paths to de-escalation before and during winter without providing details.
• Russia Reports Two Dead in Ukrainian Drone Attacks: According to authorities, two people were killed in Russian regions during Ukrainian drone attacks. One fatality occurred in the Perm region, announced Governor Dmitry Makhonin. Four others were injured there, with local air defense reportedly shooting down 27 drones. Perm is located on the eastern edge of the Ural Mountains. In the Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, one person was killed and another injured, according to local authorities. The Russian military, in turn, reported new attacks on Ukrainian ports, including a ship in the port of Chornomorsk carrying military supplies and loading facilities in the port of Izmail.
• Witkoff and Kushner Arrive in Kyiv: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Kyiv in the effort to end the Ukraine war. Unian news agency released a video of their arrival by train. Images show them meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Witkoff and Kushner had previously held talks with Vladimir Putin in Russia, with the Kremlin describing the meeting as constructive. This is the Americans' first visit to Kyiv.
• Russia and Ukraine Continue Air Attacks: The three-day ceasefire ordered by Vladimir Putin from Saturday to Monday applies only to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, ensuring the safety of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, air attacks on other targets have not ceased, with Ukraine reportedly attacking a Russian oil refinery in Ryazan and explosions reported in the Rostov region.
• Kremlin Calls Trump Envoy Visit an 'Important Peace Visit': New talks concerning the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine between Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have concluded in Moscow. The meeting, which lasted about three hours, was described as 'useful' and 'constructive' by the Kremlin. Putin reportedly explained that Russia would achieve its goals and that the root causes of the conflict needed to be resolved. The envoys are now traveling to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• Russia Halts Attacks on Kyiv for Three Days: During the visit of US envoys, Ukraine announced it would not endanger Russian airspace. Russian President Vladimir Putin has subsequently ordered a three-day halt to air attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, effective from Sunday morning.
• Selenskyy: Russia Shells Kyiv Airports Ahead of US Visit: Just before the expected visit of US envoys to Kyiv, Russian forces, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shelled the capital's airports. The airports of Zhuliany and Boryspil were demonstratively attacked for the first time in a while, he wrote on social media. Zelenskyy suggested Moscow was attempting to create uncertainty before the Americans' arrival. Ukraine will respond with drone attacks to paralyze Russian air traffic next week, he threatened.
• Five Dead in Ukrainian Attack in Russian-Controlled Luhansk Region: According to the governor of the occupied territory, Leonid Pasechnik, five people were killed in Ukrainian attacks in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Luhansk region over the past 24 hours. Another five people were injured.
• Firefighting Measures Agreed for Nuclear Power Plant: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has again negotiated a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia to enable repairs to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi announced that repair work would begin on Saturday after demining operations. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and its cooling systems could face a blackout within days, the IAEA warned. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe came under Russian control shortly after the outbreak of the Ukraine war. Its six reactors are shut down, but the plant requires electricity to cool the radioactive material and prevent a nuclear accident.

Disclaimer: Many figures regarding the course of the war, such as casualty numbers or details of combat, originate from Ukrainian or Russian authorities and cannot be independently verified. This live blog uses information from our own research as well as material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg.