Overview

• Russia launched 157 strike drones overnight on Sept. 4–5 from multiple directions, and Ukraine said air defenses neutralized 121, with missiles and 35 drones hitting 10 locations including an industrial site in Dnipro.
• Officials reported fresh civilian casualties: three killed and six injured in Kharkiv region, multiple injuries in Sumy after 122 attacks across 49 settlements, and two Ukrainian deminers with the Danish Refugee Council killed near Chernihiv.
• Ground combat remained intense, with Ukraine’s General Staff logging 172 clashes on Sept. 4 and identifying the Pokrovsk and Lyman sectors as focal points; by Friday afternoon, 103 engagements had occurred, with most assaults again centered on Pokrovsk.
• French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 countries agreed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine that would take effect when the fighting stops, and a call with President Donald Trump included his push for Europe to halt purchases of Russian oil.
• Ukraine continued deep strikes on Russian refineries that have curtailed refining capacity and spurred extended export bans, while Kyiv’s commanders moved to expand layered air defenses and improve interceptor drone performance.