Russia steps up deadly daytime strikes on Kyiv as NATO commander warns Putin aims to break allies' will

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026 · last updated 29 September 2026.

At least seven people were killed in daytime attacks on Kyiv as Russia intensified strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets, with the NATO supreme commander warning that Moscow's goal is to shatter the resolve of Ukraine's allies rather than win on the battlefield alone. The Kremlin insisted Ukraine is now 'paying the price' for its own cross-border strikes, while September is on course to be Russia's worst month for losses all year. US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said Ukraine's continued strikes inside Russia are pushing both sides closer to the negotiating table, though the two remain 'a long way apart' on key issues.

Russia is approaching its worst monthly military losses of 2026, with the number of identified dead soldiers reaching a new milestone, Ukrainian officials say.

Whitaker warned a deal would be 'impossible' if Putin refuses to compromise, but said President Trump's team is actively probing both sides for common ground.

Putin's strikes are reportedly deliberately targeting Ukrainian cultural sites in what critics are calling a 'genocidal' campaign to erase national identity.