Russian strikes kill two Ukrainian civilians as Moscow and Kyiv threaten to raise stakes

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Smoke raises after a Russian drone attack in downtown Kyiv, on September 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP

Russian aerial attacks overnight and during daylight on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) killed two civilians and wounded six in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, local officials said, while the Kyiv and Odesa regions bore the brunt of Moscow's latest strikes.

The air war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified as the conflict stretches into its fifth year following Moscow's invasion of its neighbour. The front line in eastern and southern Ukraine remains largely deadlocked, and US efforts to negotiate a settlement have yet to produce a path to peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy exchanged threats late Tuesday (September 1, 2026) over what their next steps might be.

Mr. Zelenskyy warned foreign airlines that flying in Russia is not safe because of Ukrainian long-range drone attacks, saying that “Russian airspace will effectively be closing.” The military pressure aims to compel Russia to accept peace negotiations, he said.

Mr. Putin accused Mr. Zelenskyy of “state terrorism” and said: “We don't negotiate with terrorists.”

Mr. Putin's comments got short shrift from Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation, a government body, which said the remarks were a flagrant attempt by the Russian leader to shift the blame away from Moscow. “A state that itself unleashed this war, that daily commits terror against Ukrainian civilians and destroys cities, is again trying to portray itself as a victim,” the centre said.

Russian Transportation Minister Andrey Nikitin dismissed any travel concerns, saying authorities are constantly strengthening flight safety. “We will not allow any significant disruptions to civil aviation,” he told reporters, according to Russian news agency Interfax.

At a late-night news conference at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Putin also addressed reports that the Ukrainian military had used British-made drones to strike inside Russia.

Asked whether Russia would strike British military facilities if the U.K. government continues to provide Ukraine with weaponry, Mr. Putin declined to rule it out. With a small smile, he told reporters that it is “a military secret.” China and North Korea, meanwhile, have provided military support for Russia, as has Iran in previous years.

The Russian and Ukrainian leaders' comments came as European officials weigh their response to the latest in what they say is Moscow's campaign of continental sabotage and disruption aimed at weakening support for Ukraine.