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](mailto: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/   EMAIL US: Contact the team on [ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk](mailto: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 * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.