The scope of mutual attacks in the Russia-Ukraine war has expanded since the beginning of September. Russia has targeted railways, bridges, ports, power facilities and transport hubs in Ukraine, while Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, logistics centers, military airfields and air defense systems.
NATO tensions rise over Kaliningrad
The escalation of the conflict has also created new tensions between NATO and Russia through statements about Kaliningrad, Russia's westernmost region connected to Europe. Messages were issued indicating that Russia could use “all its weapons” if the region, which borders Lithuania and Poland and has a coastline on the Baltic Sea to the west and northwest, faced a possible blockade or attack.
In a statement on September 29, the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom said those supporting plans to blockade or attack Kaliningrad should not be mistaken about the consequences. The statement said any military action by the United Kingdom or NATO against Russian territory would be met with all the means at Russia's disposal, including nuclear weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also said at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow that a direct attack on Russia or an attempt to annex Kaliningrad would raise the possibility of using all the weapons and means at Moscow's disposal. The statement came after reports that Russia had conveyed its position on Kaliningrad to NATO.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte did not disclose the contents of Russia's letter but said the alliance had responded to Moscow on September 30. Rutte said NATO was a defensive alliance and called on Russia to end its nuclear threats and the war in Ukraine.
Targets of Russian attacks in Ukraine
Russian attacks on various regions of Ukraine have killed or injured many people and damaged local infrastructure. The targets included a border crossing on the Romanian border on September 6 and the building of the My-Ukraina television channel, which was participating in Ukraine's United News marathon, on September 8.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said attacks on airfields near Kyiv were “demonstration attacks” carried out before the visit to Kyiv by U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The September 6 visit was Witkoff and Kushner's first trip to Ukraine after the start of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
In addition to the capital, Kyiv, the southern Odesa region was among the main targets of Russian attacks. Ships approaching the ports and infrastructure in the area were damaged, while Ukrainian officials said at least 48 people were injured in the attacks on September 12 and that a hotel in the city of Chornomorsk was hit.
The Russian Defense Ministry said facilities it alleged were used to unload and store military equipment at the Port of Chornomorsk had been hit, along with two dry cargo ships and a tugboat. Both sides maintain that they do not deliberately target civilian infrastructure and argue that their attacks are directed at military targets or facilities linked to military activities.
One of the most notable attacks on railway infrastructure took place in Ukraine's Volyn region on September 14. A train bound for Warsaw, the capital of Poland, came under a drone attack, while Ukraine said the attack may have targeted a diplomatic train that had left the station earlier and was carrying former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European officials. Moscow said it continued to target railway facilities in western Ukraine that it alleged were used to transport military cargo from European countries.
Attacks on Russia's energy and logistics infrastructure
Moscow also raised Ukraine's operations against energy and logistics infrastructure on Russian territory. An October 11 drone attack targeted facilities belonging to online retailer Ozon.
Logistics centers belonging to Wildberries, the country's largest online retail company, were also targeted during a campaign launched by Ukraine in mid-July and expanded to various Russian regions. Attacks on Ozon facilities began in August. Kyiv argues that both companies play a role in Russia's military supply chain, while Moscow and the companies say the facilities are commercial in nature.
Ukraine's attacks continued against various energy sites, including the Novorossiysk oil terminal in Russia's southern Krasnodar region and facilities at the Ust-Luga Port in the northwestern Leningrad region. The attacks were said to have limited Russia's capacity to convert crude oil into transportation fuels.
Following these developments, Russia imposed restrictions on diesel exports in July and extended the measure through September. U.S. President Donald Trump asked Zelenskyy in mid-September to stop military attacks on diesel refineries in Russia, saying the operations had caused a global fuel shortage.
Russia also accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt parliamentary elections held from September 18 to 20 and alleged that Kyiv had targeted local infrastructure, including polling stations. Ukraine did not comment on the accusation.
