Day 1,312: Major Developments in the Russia-Ukraine War

Key developments on day 1,312 of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Published on 28 September 2025

Today’s status update, September 28, 2025:

Current Fighting

Ukrainian forces launched long-range drones targeting an oil pumping station in Russia’s Chuvashia region, leading to significant operational disruptions due to a resulting fire, according to reports from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).
In a concerning development, Russian troops have captured three additional villages in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Dnipro, signaling a persistent Russian offensive, as outlined in a Telegram post by the Russian military.
In another point of conflict, both Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged accusations over recent attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has remained disconnected from the primary power grid for the past four days.

NATO has declared an enhancement of its Baltic Sea mission, deploying an air-defense frigate along with other military resources in response to several recent unidentified drone incidents near Danish airports and military bases.
Latvia and Lithuania have urged NATO to bolster its military presence in the Baltic States, citing concerns over alleged violations of their airspace by Russian forces.
Norway has initiated an investigation regarding “potential drone sightings” near its largest military base, Ørland, home to its advanced F-35 fighter jets, according to military officials.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, has warned NATO and the EU that any aggression towards Russia “will provoke a strong retaliatory measure.” He indicated that Moscow is prepared to respond if provoked.
In a separate comment, Lavrov criticized Germany’s increasing defense expenditure as a return to its Nazi past, a remark seen as a direct jab at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Russia has faced a setback, failing to secure the required 93 votes for election to the governing council of the UN aviation agency, garnering only 87 votes during the organization’s assembly in Montreal.
During a meeting in New York, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed Seoul’s serious concerns regarding military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, noting the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to assist Russia and significant weapons transfers from Pyongyang to Moscow.