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Morning opening: 12 killed in latest round of Russian attacks on Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
At least 12 people, including an Indian citizen, were killed in overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine with “dozens” more injured, the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said the Russian strikes also left “thousands” of families without electricity in the Odesa region, and a border crossing with Romania “deliberately damaged.”
Over the last few days, Ukraine suffered a series of prolonged Russian attacks, including daytime bombing, in the latest attempt to “wear down” the war-torn country. Kyiv has now been targeted for six consecutive days.
The issue of Russian threat will no doubt also come up during an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, with some suggestions that Germany could be close to attributing last month’s Leipzig incidents to Russia.
A number of other countries also saw incidents believed to be linked with Russia, including a suspected arson of a drone factory in Poland on Sunday night. Both Estonia and Latvia briefly activated their air alert systems on Tuesday amid reports of drones near their airspace.
I will bring you all the latest here.
In other news, over in Norway, King Hakoon VIII will take his oath in the Norwegian parliament following the death of his father, King Harald. I will keep an eye on that, too.
It’s Tuesday, 1 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events
Ukrainian PM urges lawmakers to speed up key legislation to secure necessary funding
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s prime minister Sergii Koretskyi called on lawmakers on Tuesday to speed up voting on key legislation to help secure necessary financing for Ukraine, as the country is facing a $27bn deficit for defence.
Koretskyi added that his government would audit the needs of the defence ministry, Reuters said.
Back to Germany and the Leipzig incident last month, we now have a confirmation that we will hear from the country’s interior and foreign ministers later today on the attempted Leipzig drone incident, believed to be linked to Russia (10:17).
Speaking on a foreign visit to Algiers, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said “Germany will not be intimidated in any way, and that will continue to be the fundamental stance of our policy.”
“Russia must know that Germany is a stabilising force in Europe, one that is always prepared to negotiate, but which will not be intimidated in any way,” he said in comments reported by German news agency DPA.
I will make sure to keep an eye on this for you.
Norwegian Queen Mette-Marit to skip swearing-in ceremony today owing to health issues
Over in Norway, we are waiting for the swearing-in ceremony of King Haakon, which should get under way in the next hour or so.
But the Norwegian media just reported that Queen Mette-Marit – who has recently come under scrutiny over scandals including a much-criticised association with the late US child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – will not attend the ceremony owing to complications after her lung transplant in mid-June.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be there, though.
There is an interesting back story to today’s meeting of EU defence ministers in Wicklow, with the Irish Times reporting that a British warship and a helicopter designed to hunt submarines have been deployed off the coast of Ireland, just outside Irish territorial waters, in a bid to keep the meeting secure.
The move was needed as the Irish Defence Forces lack the capability to conduct long-range air defence operations, the Irish Times said.
UK foreign secretary Ed Miliband is also expected to join the meeting, the paper said, although it is understood that he will join the Gymnich meeting of foreign ministers, not the defence setting.
Ireland’s approach to defence has drawn close scrutiny in recent weeks given the country holds the EU’s rotating presidency.
Russia launched more than 2,800 jet-powered drones at Ukraine in August, Kyiv says
Russia launched more than 2,800 harder-to-shoot-down jet-powered drones at Ukraine in August, Ukraine’s air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Tuesday.
Their interception rate was lower compared with other types of drones, at around 60%, Ihnat told Ukrainian television in comments reported by Reuters.
Germany to formally blame Russia for attempted Leipzig drone attack today – reports
Separately, we are picking up reports in the German press that Germany is set to formally blame Russia for last month’s failed drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane in Leipzig.
Bild newspaper says the German interior and foreign ministers are set to announce the results of their investigation into the incident later today. This is yet to be formally confirmed by any of the ministries involved.
Over the weekend, German chancellor Friedrich Merz sort of suggested that a formal response from the government was coming soon, but did not go into the details.
I will keep an eye on this.
On behalf of the Irish presidency in the EU Council, Ireland’s defence minister Helen McEntee said the talks in Wicklow come “at a moment of profound challenge for all of us in terms of defence and security,” with closer cooperation needed “more than ever.”
Ukraine, maritime security, and resilience against hybrid and cyber threats will be top of the agenda today, she says.
Opening the meeting, EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said today’s talks in Ireland will primarily focus on the EU’s support for Ukraine, with further discussions on other current affairs, including maritime security and Lebanon.
She said that Nato remained “the cornerstone of our security,” but with the US urging its European partners to “assume greater responsibility for their own defence,” there is more scope for internal discussions.
She urged ministers to “challenge the conventional thinking to look beyond simply doing more of the same,” and look for ways in which Europe can innovate and offer new capabilities.
Curiously, Kallas also said she would be forming “a high-level group of former political and military leaders from several EU countries, but also the UK and Ukraine, to have a fresh look at how to respond to current and increasing, very real, military threats.”
Will look out for names.
Morning opening: 12 killed in latest round of Russian attacks on Ukraine
Jakub Krupa
At least 12 people, including an Indian citizen, were killed in overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine with “dozens” more injured, the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said the Russian strikes also left “thousands” of families without electricity in the Odesa region, and a border crossing with Romania “deliberately damaged.”
Over the last few days, Ukraine suffered a series of prolonged Russian attacks, including daytime bombing, in the latest attempt to “wear down” the war-torn country. Kyiv has now been targeted for six consecutive days.
The issue of Russian threat will no doubt also come up during an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, with some suggestions that Germany could be close to attributing last month’s Leipzig incidents to Russia.
A number of other countries also saw incidents believed to be linked with Russia, including a suspected arson of a drone factory in Poland on Sunday night. Both Estonia and Latvia briefly activated their air alert systems on Tuesday amid reports of drones near their airspace.
I will bring you all the latest here.
In other news, over in Norway, King Hakoon VIII will take his oath in the Norwegian parliament following the death of his father, King Harald. I will keep an eye on that, too.
It’s Tuesday, 1 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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