Sep 22, 2026, 11:30 PM UTC

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued mutual strikes across multiple regions, despite agreements to halt attacks on Moscow and Kyiv during upcoming visits by American envoys seeking to advance peace negotiations.

Casualties were reported in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia following Russian missile and drone strikes, while Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian oil refinery alongside sites in Belgorod and Sochi. Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian strike on a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, describing it as an effort to cause "intimidation and divisions among Europeans."

The military activity comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly and talks with former US President Donald Trump.

Sources: Avaz, Beta, CDM, N1, Vijesti

Iran has indicated it could potentially reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States reduces military pressure and engages in diplomatic negotiations, according to reports citing an official proposal. The signal, communicated through mediators, follows Tehran's insistence that the waterway would remain blocked until Washington meets several demands. These conditions include ending port blockades, lifting oil sanctions, unfreezing assets, and ceasing military operations.

The diplomatic gesture comes amid sharp military friction, including recent US nighttime tanker escorts, Iranian rocket-launched sea mines, and retaliatory strikes on Larak Island. Analysts note both sides are seeking leverage while conflict risks remain elevated.

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

Russian forces carried out nearly 60 strikes across five districts in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period, resulting in at least five deaths and leaving 16 people injured, according to local emergency personnel.

The attacks inflicted severe damage in multiple locations. In Kamianske district, three individuals were killed and five others sustained injuries. Further casualties were reported in Pavlohrad, where two people died and seven were wounded. Strikes also caused additional injuries and structural harm in Nikopol district, where rescuers and firefighters were deployed to extinguish fires and assess physical damage. Emergency teams continue to evaluate the full extent of destruction across the impacted communities as local authorities monitor the situation.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated following the first direct military exchange between the two sides in a month, with explosions reported near the Iranian coastal cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik. US President Donald Trump warned that additional strikes would follow if Iran chooses to retaliate, asserting that Tehran is "begging" for a deal with Washington. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran is not seeking conflict, but emphasized that it will "decisively respond to aggressors." Despite the sharp warnings and military actions, backchannel diplomatic links between the two countries reportedly remain open as regional dynamics unfold.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro).

Heavy combat continued along the Ukrainian frontline, with the Ukrainian General Staff reporting over 250 engagements within 24 hours. Russian forces concentrated assault operations on the Pokrovsk, Lyman, and Kostiantynivka sectors. North of Kupiansk, Ukrainian infantry conducted clearing operations along the Oskil River following targeted efforts to disable Russian drone capabilities.

Conflicting official reports emerged regarding territorial control across several regions. While the Russian Defense Ministry claimed captures near Sumy and denied Ukrainian progress in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian reports and military analysts highlighted Ukrainian advances near Lyman and Kupiansk.

Concurrently, Russian forces launched 138 drones in overnight air strikes across Ukraine. Local authorities confirmed civilian casualties in Kyiv Oblast, where a mother and her two children were killed, and in Kherson Oblast, where a drone strike on a monastery killed a priest.

Sources: NV, Point, Radio Svoboda, The Insider, Ukrainska Pravda.