This timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine covers the period from 1 September 2023 to the present day during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
September 2023
1 September
In Russia, three drones were intercepted by air defenses over Pskov and Belgorod Oblasts, while another reportedly hit a factory that manufactured electronic components for rockets in Lyubertsy, Moscow Oblast, forcing the closure of airports in the area. At least two buildings were reportedly damaged in another drone attack in Kurchatov, Kursk Oblast.
One person was killed by Russian shelling in Kherson.
The British weapons firm BAE Systems opened a branch in Ukraine as part of preparations to produce light artillery there.
Two container ships left Odesa through the temporary corridor introduced by Ukraine in the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP) included PepsiCo and Mars, Incorporated to its list of international sponsors of the Russian war effort in Ukraine for continuing to operate in Russia.
Satellite images revealed that Russia had withdrawn air defences, artillery and tanks from the Kuril Islands as part of a possible redeployment to Ukraine.
The first Ukrainian crewmen completed their training on M1A1 Abrams tanks in the United States in anticipation of their delivery to Ukraine. However, their training was extended upon request by the Ukrainian government.
2 September
Russia claimed to have destroyed three naval drones attempting to attack the Crimean Bridge, while the governor of Belgorod Oblast claimed that Ukrainian shelling killed one person in Urazovo.
The Ukrainian military claimed to have breached the first line of Russian defenses in the Zaporizhzhia front and were now pushing towards the succeeding defense line.
Four people, including a police officer, were killed by Russian attacks in Donetsk, Kherson and Sumy Oblasts.
The United States pledged depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds that can be fired from M1A1 Abrams tanks it was sending to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package valued at $240-$375 million.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force said that the US would supply Ukraine with AMRAAM missiles, with Raytheon signing a contract to supply them to Ukraine valued at $192 million.
3 September
Russia launched an overnight drone attack on the port of Reni, injuring two people. The Ukrainian Air force claimed to have shot down 23 of 25 drones launched. Two people were killed in separate attacks in Donetsk and Kherson Oblast.
Ukraine claimed to have destroyed a Russian KS-701 patrol boat using a Bayraktar TB2 drone in the Black Sea, killing six and wounding two. In a separate attack in Luhansk Oblast, a Russian TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system was reportedly destroyed by a drone, killing its crew.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the dismissal of his Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and his replacement by Rustem Umierov, the manager of the State Property Fund of Ukraine and a negotiator in talks with Russia throughout the war. Zelenskyy said he had based his decision on finding "new approaches" for the ministry, which had also been caught up in several corruption scandals in recent weeks. Umierov's appointment was confirmed by the Verkhovna Rada on 6 September.
In Russia, Roman Starovoit, governor of Kursk Oblast, claimed that a Ukrainian drone was shot down over Kurchatov, with falling debris setting fire to a "non-residential building".
President Zelenskyy said France had agreed to help train Ukrainian pilots on the use of F-16 fighter jets.
4 September
Russia claimed to have shot down two drones over the Black Sea and in Kursk Oblast and destroyed four Ukrainian landing boats heading towards Crimea. It also launched an overnight drone attack on Ukraine's Danube ports, damaging several buildings but causing no injuries. Ukraine claimed to have shot down 23 of 32 drones launched, with Romania saying drone parts fell on its territory. NATO said it did not believe that the spillover constituted a deliberate attack by Russia. In response, the Romanian government introduced additional security measures on the border settlements of Plauru and Ceatalchioi. One person was killed by shelling in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The Ukrainian Defence Ministry said its forces had retaken three square kilometers of territory around Bakhmut in the past week.
President Zelenskyy made another visit to Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia fronts.