Ukrainian spy HQ ablaze after Russian ‘assassination attempt’ on intelligence chief

Day 1,650.

As Russia’s almost ceaseless bombardment of Ukraine continues, we report breaking news of a drone striking the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service for the first time. Then we

hear of yet another assassination of a Russian general, believed to have ordered one of the war’s most notorious air strikes, plus more energy infrastructure strikes by Kyiv. Next, we turn to rumours that Donald Trump’s envoys Witkoff and Kushner could visit Ukraine in the coming days, before returning to the explosions that destroyed Moscow’s most powerful geopolitical tool in Europe. What do we know now that we didn’t know then about the Nord Stream blast?

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

Sophie O’Sullivan (Telegraph Journalist).

With thanks to Bojan Pancevski, chief European political correspondent for the Wall Street Journal and author of The Nord Stream Conspiracy: The Inside Story of the Explosions That Shook the World.

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:

Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest  

CONTENT REFERENCED:

If you’re interested in sponsoring Dom’s upcoming defence event, email our colleagues at events@telegraph.co.uk

Exclusive interview with Petr Pavel at NATO:

On YouTube: https://youtu.be/9Vw290vlifU?si=IX7-qlsHJkakv2IX&t=1974

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ukraine-the-latest/id1612424182?i=1000776015561

On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ulg9DLpc21t0YQDNJTrcD?si=df375c08c49d4e9c

‘The Nord Stream Conspiracy: The Inside Story of the Explosions That Shook The World’ by Bojan Pancevski:

https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/318458/bojan-pancevski

Russian general who ‘ordered attack on children’s hospital’ shot in head (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/03/russian-general-attack-childrens-hospital-shot-ukraine/ 

Russia to shut Goethe-Institut branches in response to Germany closing Russian House (Kyiv Independent)

https://kyivindependent.com/russia-to-shut-goethe-institut-branches-in-response-to-germany-closing-russian-house/?mc_cid=264a931cdb&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Estonia’s defence minister resigns over £60m Ukraine weapons scandal (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/03/estonian-minister-resigns-over-60m-ukraine-weapons-scandal/ 

Britain summons top Russian diplomat over Leipzig drone attack (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/03/britain-summons-russian-diplomat-leipzig-drone-germaby/ 

Germany announces $290 million aid package to repair Ukrainian energy infrastructure before winter (Kyiv Independent)

https://kyivindependent.com/germany-announces-290-million-aid-package-to-repair-ukrainian-energy-infrastructure-before-winter/?mc_cid=264a931cdb&mc_eid=08d0680a95

Lloyd’s of London loses £1.4bn on Iran war (The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/03/lloyds-of-london-loses-14bn-on-iran-war   

Exclusive: Trump envoys' first Kyiv trip thrown into doubt after Witkoff 'gets scared' (Kyiv Independent)

https://kyivindependent.com/trump-envoys-witkoff-kushner-to-visit-kyiv-moscow-sept-5-6-source-says/  

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Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ukrainian spy HQ ablaze after Russian ‘assassination attempt’ on intelligence chief
• Russian general who ‘ordered strike on children’s hospital’ shot dead

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