Ukraine War News Highlights, 27 September 2025: Russian foreign minister warns of 'decisive response' to Western provocation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow is prepared to give a "decisive response" to any Western provocations during an address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The comment was made in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and what Russia considers Western provocations, such as continued military aid to Ukraine.

EU Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis has declared that the EU is already engaged in a 'hybrid war' with Russia, citing recent drone incursions into the bloc's airspace as evidence, France 24 said in a report. In the interview, Dombrovskis addressed the multifaceted nature of the conflict, which blends conventional and unconventional tactics. He also discussed the economic pressures facing the EU, such as France's budget deficit exceeding the Stability Pact criteria, highlighting the tension between fiscal discipline and the need for increased defense spending in response to Russian aggression.

Russian forces have taken control of the village of Yunakovka in Ukraine's Sumy region, Sputnik News said in a report. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday that its troops had captured the village, which is located near the border with Russia.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a US-made Patriot air defense system is now operational, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. Zelenskyy stated the advanced defensive weapon has been in use for the past month, bolstering the country's ability to counter Russian missile and drone attacks. In a separate development, the International Paralympic Committee announced it has dropped sanctions against Russian athletes, a move that could allow their participation in future events under a neutral status.

Two teenagers have been arrested in the Netherlands as part of an investigation into a spying case with alleged links to Russia, according to a report in BBC. The pair were reportedly recruited by pro-Russian hackers and are accused of using a 'wi-fi sniffer' device near the Europol headquarters in The Hague.

Up to one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland face an uncertain future as a national law providing them with protected status is set to expire, according to a report in France 24. The renewal of the law, which grants Ukrainians the right to reside, work, and access social services, is awaiting the signature of Polish President Andrzej Duda. Without the extension, these individuals risk falling into a 'legal limbo,' effectively becoming undocumented and losing access to healthcare, education, and employment, despite the EU having already extended its bloc-wide Temporary Protection Directive until March 2025.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has lifted the partial suspensions of Russia and Belarus following votes at its general assembly in Seoul, South Korea, AP said in a report. The assembly rejected proposals for both full and partial suspensions against Russia, with votes of 111-55 and 91-77, respectively. The committee also voted against imposing full and partial suspensions on Belarus by margins of 119-48 and 103-63, effectively ending the sanctions that were in place due to the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a direct warning to Russia's leadership, stating they must end the war or risk becoming a target for Ukrainian drones and missiles, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. This threat is aimed at Russia's political and military decision-making centers, symbolized by the Kremlin. The statement is contextualized by Ukraine's increased use of drones for strikes deep within Russian territory and its acquisition of longer-range weaponry from Western allies, which provides a credible capability for such actions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that spy drones entered Ukraine from Hungarian territory, according to a report in Politico. The unverified accusation, which suggests the unmanned aerial vehicles were used for intelligence gathering, escalates diplomatic tensions between Kyiv and Budapest. This development occurs against a backdrop of existing friction, with Hungary having previously opposed EU aid packages for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been without external power for a record of more than three days, prompting significant safety concerns, according to a report in The Guardian. The six-reactor site is relying on emergency diesel generators for critical cooling and safety systems after the final power line was cut on the Russian-controlled side on Tuesday afternoon. With no immediate indication that the line will be reconnected, Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that Russia may be manufacturing a crisis to solidify its control over the frontline facility.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi claimed that Russia's most recent offensives have failed, as per a report in The Guardian. Zelenskyy asserted that Ukrainian forces have inflicted heavy battlefield losses on Russia. Concurrently, Syrskyi stated that Kyiv's military has successfully disrupted Moscow’s planned spring and summer campaign, marking a significant development on day 1,312 of the full-scale conflict.

The European Union plans to develop a "drone wall" along its eastern border after blaming Russia for a recent drone incursion into Polish airspace, as per a report in Al Jazeera. The initiative, spurred by ongoing security threats from the war in Ukraine, is not a physical barrier but an integrated network of detection and counter-drone technologies, including sensors and interceptors. This move is designed to protect against unauthorized aerial threats along the EU's eastern flank and follows previous airspace incursions by suspected Russian missiles or drones into NATO territory since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

Russia is using its battlefield experience from the war in Ukraine to provide Chinese airborne units with training and technical knowledge for potential military operations against Taiwan, The Washington Post said in a report. Based on intelligence documents, the assistance is reportedly aimed at preparing Chinese forces to carry out 'lightning-fast' operations by sharing operational lessons from the European conflict.

Belarus has unveiled a proposal to construct a second nuclear power plant with the capability to supply energy to Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, according to a report in AP. During a meeting in the Kremlin on Friday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko presented the plan to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who seemed to publicly endorse the idea. Lukashenko specified that the plant could be used to provide power to the occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk.

Nathan Gill, a former leader of Reform U.K. in Wales, pleaded guilty on Friday to bribery charges related to his time as a Member of the European Parliament, The New York Times said in a report. Gill admitted to accepting payments in exchange for making pro-Russia statements. The development occurs amid ongoing concerns about Russian influence operations intended to weaken Western unity against the war in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has echoed calls from US President Donald Trump for member countries to be prepared to shoot down Russian military aircraft that violate their airspace, according to a report in The Hill. This statement marks a significant rhetorical escalation from the standard protocol of intercepting and escorting intruding aircraft. The call for a more aggressive defensive posture comes in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has led to increased Russian military activity and airspace provocations near the borders of NATO member states.

A senior Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, after leading a bipartisan delegation to Ukraine, Poland, and Germany, stated he is optimistic that Ukraine can win the war with sufficient support from the U.S. and its allies, AP said in a report. The lawmaker is urging the House Speaker to promptly hold a vote on a widely supported sanctions proposal. This measure would reportedly impose new sanctions on countries that purchase Russian goods, aiming to further restrict Russia's war-funding capabilities.

Germany's defense minister has raised an alarm over the militarization of space, warning that future conflicts "will be fought openly in orbit," The Independent said in a report. The statement follows accusations that Russia has been tracking satellites utilized by the German military. This development is viewed as an expansion of the competitive domain related to the war in Ukraine, where Western satellite capabilities are seen by Russia as directly supporting Ukraine's defense efforts, thereby increasing tensions and concerns over the security of space-based assets.

The pro-Russia Heart of Moldova party has been barred from upcoming parliamentary elections after a court ruling limited its activities for one year, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. The decision was made based on allegations against the party that include voter bribery, illegal party financing, and money laundering. This action prevents the party from participating in the electoral process for the duration of the court-ordered limitation.