Russia Launches Major Missile and Drone Attacks Across Ukraine

Russia launched a major wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine on September 17, injuring civilians and damaging residential, energy and other infrastructure in several regions.

Ukrainian officials said Kyiv was among the areas hit hardest, with multiple people injured and buildings damaged. Authorities also reported damage in Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and other regions. Reuters reported that eight Ukrainian regions were affected by the attacks.

The latest strikes came as fighting continued on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war, with Ukraine also carrying out attacks against targets inside Russia.

Kyiv Among Areas Hit

Kyiv authorities reported that Russian missiles and drones struck parts of the capital during the overnight attack.

Reuters reported that 20 people were wounded in Kyiv, while AP put the number of people injured in Kyiv and surrounding areas at at least 19. The figures may change as authorities continue assessing the damage.

Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.

Ukrainian officials also reported strikes against energy infrastructure in the Sumy and Odesa regions.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted what it described as military-industrial and other military-related facilities, including drone-production sites and an energy-storage facility. Those claims could not independently establish the precise nature of every site hit.

Damage Reported in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia

Odesa was also affected.

Ukrainian authorities reported damage to a residential building, while other infrastructure was hit in the wider region. Zaporizhzhia also reported damage, including at the Zaporizhzhia steel plant.

The Russian Defence Ministry said it had targeted facilities in the Zaporizhzhia region, including the steel plant and an electronics facility. Ukrainian authorities have continued to report Russian attacks on infrastructure in the area.

The continuing attacks demonstrate how the conflict remains capable of causing damage far from the immediate frontline.

Civilian Ship Hit in the Black Sea

A separate incident involved a civilian vessel in the Black Sea.

Reuters reported that a Russian attack near Ukraine struck a Tanzania-flagged ship, killing its captain and injuring three crew members.

The incident adds another concern for commercial shipping operating in waters affected by the conflict.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned about risks to maritime activity in and around the Black Sea, while Russia says some of its strikes target military or military-support infrastructure.

Ukraine Carries Out Retaliatory Strikes

Ukraine also launched attacks against targets inside Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region and a Russian military airfield.

Russian regional authorities reported that Ukrainian drones damaged the Yaroslavl oil refinery and caused a fire, although no casualties were reported there. Reuters reported that the refinery subsequently halted crude processing after damage to key equipment.

The Yaroslavl refinery is a major facility, and the latest damage comes as Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure.

Reuters reported that the refinery’s main crude distillation unit affected by the latest attack accounts for roughly 40% of its processing capacity.

Energy Infrastructure Remains a Major Target

Energy infrastructure has become an important part of the conflict.

Both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of attacking energy facilities despite discussions about limiting such strikes.

A US-mediated understanding concerning attacks on energy infrastructure has not stopped attacks completely. Reuters reported that the two sides continued to strike energy-related facilities despite the earlier effort to reduce such attacks.

The continued targeting of refineries, energy facilities and related infrastructure has consequences beyond the battlefield because disruptions can affect fuel supplies and international energy markets.

Russia is already dealing with domestic fuel-supply pressures after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries.

Poland Scrambles Aircraft

The latest Russian strikes also raised concerns in neighbouring NATO countries.

Poland scrambled military aircraft after the attacks near its border. Reuters reported that Poland did not record a breach of its airspace, while airports in Rzeszow and Lublin were temporarily closed as a precaution.

The incident highlights the continuing risk that attacks close to Ukraine’s western border could create security concerns for neighbouring countries.

Romania has also experienced increased drone activity near its border with Ukraine. AP reported that Romanian authorities have recorded more drone incursions in 2026 than in the previous year.

New US Sanctions Add Pressure

The latest attacks occurred shortly after the US House of Representatives passed a new sanctions bill targeting Russia.

The legislation would impose additional restrictions on Russian officials, financial institutions and energy-related networks. It would also give the US president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from countries purchasing large quantities of Russian oil and gas.

The Kremlin has criticised the legislation.

Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said additional US sanctions would make efforts to reach a peace agreement more difficult. That is the Russian government’s stated position and has not been independently established as a measure of the legislation’s eventual effect on negotiations.

EU Announces Additional Support

European support for Ukraine is also continuing.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union would disburse €3.3 billion to Ukraine for the procurement of missiles and drones.

She made the announcement after speaking with Zelenskyy about strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to seek additional air-defence systems, drones, missiles and other military assistance from European partners.

The Wider Situation

The latest attacks show that the war continues to involve long-range strikes against cities, infrastructure, energy facilities and military targets well beyond the front line.

The fighting is also increasingly connected to wider economic and diplomatic developments. Energy infrastructure attacks are affecting fuel markets, while new sanctions are adding another layer to negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and their international partners.

Diplomatic efforts have continued, but major disagreements remain over the conditions for ending the war.

For civilians in Ukraine, the immediate concern remains protection from further missile and drone attacks, while authorities continue repairing damaged homes and critical infrastructure.

The next phase of the conflict will depend on developments on the battlefield, further long-range attacks, international military and economic support, and whether diplomatic efforts can produce a new agreement between the two sides.