Russia pushes Donbas capture deadline to 2027 as Ukraine reports new attacks
Russia has moved its target date for full control of the Donbas region to March 31, 2027, while Ukraine says Russian missile and drone strikes killed five people in Kyiv and Ukrainian drones hit a refinery in Saratov.
Russia announced a new deadline of March 31, 2027, for completing its objective of fully capturing the Donbas region, according to Pavlo Palisa, head of the Ukrainian presidential office. The extension follows a briefing for U.S. envoys in which Russian military officials requested additional time, after previously postponing the target date fifteen times. Ukraine still holds roughly one-fifth of Donetsk Oblast, and Kyiv has warned that Moscow may be unable to seize the remaining territory even by 2027.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Germany is prepared to supply more Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, describing the assistance as a step toward peace. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius added that Germany will increase deliveries of PAC-2 interceptors, AIM-9 air-to-air missiles and IRIS-T air-defence systems.
An overnight Russian missile and drone barrage on Kyiv on Sept. 8 killed five people and injured 29, damaging residential buildings, a school and warehouses. Ukrainian air defenses reported intercepting dozens of missiles and drones, but the attacks ended a brief truce that had been in place during a diplomatic visit by U.S. envoys.
Ukrainian drones were reported to have struck the Saratov oil refinery in Russia, igniting a fire, according to local footage and independent analysis. The refinery is located about 460 km east of the Ukrainian border.
A Shahed-type drone identified as Russian entered Moldovan and Romanian airspace on the same day, prompting airspace closures and the deployment of NATO fighter jets. The drone left Moldovan airspace after 17 minutes and continued toward Romania before crashing in Moldova.