Zelensky confirmed Ukrainian strikes on the Yaroslavl refinery and a military airfield in Rostov. He said the SBU struck an An-12 transport aircraft, two An-26s and three helicopters at the airfield. The Yaroslavl refinery was hit in a joint operation by the SBU, Unmanned Systems Forces, HUR and SZR. Zelenskyy also reported “good results” in the Black Sea, without providing further details.

❗️Poland plans to provide Ukraine with a small number of Patriot missiles as part of its next €50 million military aid package, Rzeczpospolita reports. Poland’s operational commander backed the planned transfer, while deliveries are being consulted with NATO allies, including the US.

Ukraine’s 237th Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 7th Air Assault Corps destroyed two Russian BM-21 Grad launchers on the Huliaipole-Pology route. One was hit near Huliaipole after operating almost directly from the road, while the second was struck while moving toward the city. Russian forces have been using the route, around 15 km from the line of contact, to move personnel and military equipment on the Huliaipole axis.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed strikes on the Rostov-on-Don military airfield and Slavneft-YANOS refinery overnight. Two An-26 transport aircraft, an An-12 and three helicopters were hit at the airfield, where a fire and subsequent detonations were recorded. At the Yaroslavl refinery, the AVT-3 primary oil processing unit was hit and caught fire. The refinery has capacity of around 15 million tons of oil annually and supplies products for Russia’s armed forces.

❗️Ukrainian forces struck two Russian S-400 launchers near Vygonichi in Bryansk Oblast and a site used to store, prepare and launch strike drones near Donetsk, Ukraine’s General Staff reported. Logistics depots were also hit in Kurakhivka and Nova Marivka in Donetsk region and Luhansk, while concentrations of Russian personnel were struck in Strilkove in Kherson region and Druzhne in Luhansk region.

Marine Le Pen said NATO entering the Russia-Ukraine war would mean “World War III,” while the alternative could be a century-long war between Russia and Ukraine. Her framing presents only two choices to French audiences: direct NATO involvement and the risk of French troops entering the war, or financing Ukraine for decades. It leaves surrendering Ukraine to Putin and returning to the previous status quo as the implied alternative.

Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 252 people killed in the war. Russia claims the remains belong to Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel. Ukrainian law enforcement and Interior Ministry experts will now conduct forensic examinations and identify the repatriated bodies.

❗️Poland scrambled military aircraft as Russia launched jet-powered drones against western Ukraine. Ground-based air defenses and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on alert, while Ukrainian monitoring sources reported that a Shahed drone had fallen near the Polish border.

❗️Trump plans to sign a sanctions bill targeting Russia and Iran, a White House official told the WSJ. The legislation allows tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas, penalizes Russian individuals and entities, and extends sanctions on Iran through 2031.

Ukrainian drones are hitting targets in Kursk, Russia. Explosions are reported and a fire can be seen.

❗️ Russia, China and India pushed back after Congress passed new sanctions legislation targeting Russian energy. The Kremlin said the measure would complicate efforts to find a path toward ending the war against Ukraine. China’s Foreign Ministry called the restrictions unjustified and defended its cooperation with Russia. India warned Washington that new tariffs over purchases of Russian oil could affect bilateral relations and said it would continue buying Russian crude.

Ukraine’s 66th Mechanized Brigade says it liberated Serednie in Donetsk region during Operation Vivaldi. Artillery and drones suppressed Russian firing positions before mechanized infantry, supported by tanks, cleared the village without Ukrainian losses and pushed Russian forces across the Nitrius River.

Maj. Gen. Viktor Nikoliuk is leaving command of Ukraine’s East Group of Forces. Media sources say the formation has been dissolved as new Center and Azov groupings are established under Andriy Biletsky and Denys Prokopenko, who will take over management of the eastern defense. Nikoliuk said he had overseen the Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, Ocheretyne and Pokrovsk axes and was handing over a fully combat-capable force to his successor.

Ukraine’s Omega Special Purpose Center showed its Mora group operating an unmanned ground system across off-road terrain under constant threat from Russian FPV drones. The unit says the system’s main purpose is to reduce risks to Ukrainian troops while completing assigned missions.

❗️ Zelensky says Ukraine successfully tested an interceptor against a jet-powered Shahed, scoring a confirmed shootdown and planning to scale the capability. He said new active and long-range operations are being prepared, while reinforcements are planned for the Kupyansk axis.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry is again denying the Bucha massacre. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed images of dead civilians appeared only after Russian forces withdrew and accused British media, particularly the BBC, of driving what she called the “Bucha construct.” She further alleged that the British government organized the entire media campaign, without presenting evidence for that allegation.

Germany plans to transfer 10 MIM-104E GEM-T Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, with an original acquisition value of about $29.6 million. The US is prepared to authorize the transfer, which can take place immediately after the congressional notification period is completed.

Good morning ⛅️

The 17/09/26 SitRep on Ukraine is ready: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/2100827830246404113.html

Nearly 700,000 people rely on our Ukraine war reporting across platforms, reaching over 800 million impressions per year. This reporting has no sponsors, no corporate backing, and no political funding. It exists because readers chose to support it.

For nearly four years, we’ve delivered real-time, verified updates, tracked developments, and cut through misinformation. Reader support directly funds verification tools, source networks, and the expansion of our team to increase speed, accuracy, coverage and quality of content.

Reach alone does not sustain independent reporting. It survives because individuals decide it is worth supporting.

If our work has helped you stay informed, consider contributing. Even small monthly support makes a meaningful difference and helps secure this work long-term.

Patreon (monthly): https://patreon.com/NOELREPORTS
One-time support: https://buymeacoffee.com/noelreports

Thank you for helping keep independent Ukraine war reporting alive.

Greetings,
NOEL & Team

Russian losses per 18/09/26 reported by the Ukrainian General Staff

+1420 men
+5 tanks
+7 ACVs
+75 artillery systems
+3 MLRS
+1 AD system
+1808 UAVs
+12 GRCs