War in Ukraine: What happened this week?

New military aid for the Ukraine from the US, leaks to key gas pipelines and President Putin 's intentions to annex four more areas of Ukraine dominated the news agenda.

Here, ChamberlinkDaily rounds up the past week 's events.

Monday 26 August

The operators of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 warn of major leaks and 'unprecedented damage ' to the pipelines, with Ukraine accusing Russia of attacking the undersea gas network.

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak claims Russia attacked the pipelines as a means to destabilise the economic situation in Europe and cause pre-winter panic.

Tuesday 27 September

Kremlin-orchestrated referenda expected to serve as a pretext for Moscow to annex Russian-held regions of Ukraine conclude as the preordained outcome of the votes heightened tension between Russia and the West.

Wednesday 28 September

President Biden 's administration announces it will double the number of Himars rocket systems being sent to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package worth $1.1 billion USD. The systems have been pivotal in Ukraine 's fightback against Russia.

The European Commission proposes an eighth round of sanctions against Russia following four 'sham ' referenda held by Russia in Ukrainian territory this week.

The measures would look to ban Russian exports worth £6.4 billion and tighten restrictions on goods flowing from the EU that could help Russia.

Thursday 29 September

President Putin announces his intentions to hold a signing ceremony on Friday to annex four more areas of Ukraine.

So-called votes were held in the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson earlier in the week, with President Zelenskyy saying the 'pseudo ' referenda did not change the territorial integrity of Ukraine.