Sep 15, 2026, 11:30 PM UTC

Russia and Ukraine have continued overnight strikes against each other despite diplomatic efforts and reported discussions surrounding a temporary pause in hostilities. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are visiting Kyiv and Moscow to advance peace negotiations.

US President Donald Trump stated that both nations agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine would comply if Western partners guarantee Russia refrains from targeting energy, infrastructure, and food supply routes. Media reports also indicated Ukrainian troops received instructions for a four-day operational halt during the envoys' visit.

Despite these discussions, attacks persisted. Ukrainian officials reported casualties in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, while drone strikes caused injuries in Russia's Belgorod and Sochi regions. European officials condemned a Russian strike near the Polish border as an attempt to divide European nations.

Sources: Beta, CDM (Cafe del Montenegro), Index, N1, Vijesti

Military exchanges between the United States and Iran have intensified near the Strait of Hormuz following clashes between American forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to US Central Command, five Iranian vessels were destroyed after attempting to target American warships. In response, Iranian state media claimed Tehran launched 20 missiles at US military positions in Jordan and struck six maritime vessels, including an aircraft carrier and three tankers.

Despite the escalation, US President Donald Trump stated that the strategic shipping corridor remains open, asserting that Iranian forces face severe difficulties. Conversely, US intelligence officials cautioned that the Revolutionary Guard could feel emboldened, raising concerns over prolonged regional conflict. Meanwhile, emergency personnel extinguished a fire aboard a damaged oil tanker, allowing commercial traffic to move under heightened security protocols.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

European security investigations have uncovered further details regarding the explosive drone incident at Leipzig airport, identifying two suspects: a Russian national holding a Latvian passport and a Belarusian national with Russian documentation. Although the Belarusian suspect obtained a Schengen visa issued by Italy, security sources indicated he did not transit through the country.

Concurrently, Russian forces conducted a third straight night of drone strikes against Kyiv, causing air raid alerts and several fires. Moscow's defense officials announced preparations for "massive attacks" on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, framing the planned escalation as a direct response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and civilian facilities. EU leaders previously emphasized that member states will "not tolerate attacks on EU soil" as hybrid threat concerns persist.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

The United States executed military strikes against Iranian positions in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, marking the first direct exchange of fire between the two nations in a month.

Following the operations, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington is prepared to launch additional military actions if Tehran chooses to retaliate. Trump also claimed that Iranian leadership is eager to secure a diplomatic agreement with the United States.

In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran does not seek a broader conflict, though he warned that the country will "decisively respond to aggressors." The military action represents a significant escalation in regional hostilities following weeks of rising friction along critical Middle Eastern maritime routes.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro)

Tehran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington accepts a memorandum of understanding requiring an immediate halt to military operations, the lifting of port blockades and oil sanctions, and the unfreezing of assets.

The diplomatic demand follows a major escalation in the waterway, where US forces conducted their largest crude oil escort operation since the conflict began six months ago. Supported by air, sea, and space assets, US forces also targeted Iranian military positions on Larak Island. In response, Iranian forces deployed rocket-launched naval mines into the passage, which previously handled approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil daily.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)