Translated with AI
On the night of September 16, Russian forces launched large-scale, combined-arms strikes against several regions of Ukraine, including Zaporizhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy. According to regional authorities, the strikes killed at least several civilians and wounded dozens; the exact numbers are being clarified.
In the late afternoon and early morning, numerous strikes struck the city of Zaporizhzhia and the Polohivskyi district, killing at least one person and injuring more than ten others, including children. According to regional governor Ivan Fedorov, residential buildings were destroyed and large fires broke out, engulfing residential buildings, parking lots, and service stations. Rescuers are continuing to clean up the aftermath. Several reports indicate multiple rocket launchers struck residential areas.
In the Kherson region, regional authorities are reporting destruction of residential and commercial buildings, damage to apartment buildings, and private properties; according to preliminary reports, at least two people have been killed and several others injured. Civilian casualties have also been recorded in the Kharkiv region, including one death near Kupyansk. In the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions, injuries and damage of varying magnitude are reported. Local military and civilian authorities continue to report casualties and damage.
The Ukrainian side reported the massive use of attack drones against civilian and military targets. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 113 attack drones of the Shahed, Gerbera, and other types were used in the nighttime attack. By morning, air defenses had repelled most of the attack, shooting down or suppressing 89 UAVs. However, hits and debris falls were recorded at six locations. The Ukrainian military also reported launches from Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.
In addition to drone strikes, several settlements were hit by missiles and artillery; in Zaporizhia, in particular, the use of multiple launch rocket systems was reported. Fires caused by the strikes affected residential buildings and infrastructure, complicating the work of emergency services and leading to the evacuation of residents in several neighborhoods.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the overnight attacks, once again calling on partners to jointly protect European skies and expedite the delivery of multi-layered air defense systems. He acknowledged the scale of the air pressure on the country in recent weeks and cited data on thousands of enemy drones and hundreds of missiles in a short period, which, he said, demonstrates the need for joint air defense measures on the European continent.
Ukrainian authorities and rescue services continue to determine casualties and the extent of damage, work at impact sites, and provide assistance to victims. The military states that airspace protection remains a priority, but even one or two hits on critical facilities or strikes on residential areas can lead to severe humanitarian consequences.
In recent weeks, the Russian Federation has significantly increased its use of attack drones and aircraft; Ukrainian authorities have recorded hundreds of drone launches and hundreds of munitions, increasing the burden on air defense systems and raising the risk of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. The international community is monitoring the escalation and discussing measures to strengthen collective air defense and protect civilians.
