Zelensky reports over 2,000 Russian drones and 1,700 bombs hit Ukraine in a week
President Zelensky said Russia launched more than 2,000 attack drones, 1,700 air bombs and 19 missiles across Ukrainian cities in the past week.
Over the last seven days, Russia bombarded Ukrainian territory with more than 2,000 attack drones, most described by President Zelensky as jet-powered and capable of 600 km/h, together with 1,700 air-dropped bombs and 19 missiles of various types. The strikes hit a range of targets, including monasteries, critical infrastructure, commercial premises and residential buildings, and have become nearly hourly as Moscow pivots to frequent drone assaults while maintaining larger missile attacks.
Zelensky posted on social media that Ukraine is defending itself continuously, day and night. He also announced approval of new long-range operations on Sept. 19, though he gave no specifics. In August, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission recorded 372 civilian deaths and 2,349 injuries, the second-largest monthly casualty count of 2026.
Zelensky called on international partners to impose stronger sanctions and provide further military aid, citing a recent U.S. proposal for a $2.7 billion defense package. He mentioned an upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly, suggesting it could shift diplomatic momentum.
Why it matters
The intensity of Russian drone and bomb attacks underscores Ukraine's escalating humanitarian crisis and the urgency for more international assistance.
How this story developed
- Aug 14 Russia claims strikes on Ukrainian rail hub and vessels as drones hit Russian ports
- Sep 9 Trump said Putin signaled willingness to reach a Ukraine peace deal.
- Sep 10 Zelenskyy met Norwegian leaders in Oslo to discuss further military aid after the drone near‑miss.
- Sep 10 Ukraine has started an offensive operation in the north of the Donetsk region, according to Brigadier-General Andrii Biletskyi.
- Sep 11 Russia has deployed the new “Web” shield to safeguard energy infrastructure.
- Sep 12 Trump publicly singled out the Putin‑Zelensky personal clash as the chief barrier to a settlement.
- Sep 12 Zelensky said missile assistance will be a key agenda item for the September meeting.
- Sep 12 Kremlin invites Zelensky to Moscow for a possible meeting with Putin.
- Sep 12 Russia has broadened deployment of jet‑propelled drones, prompting Kyiv to trial quicker, low‑cost interceptors.
- Sep 14 Donald Trump, speaking on his return trip from Ireland to the United States, again urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop attacking Russian diesel refineries. He claimed that many diesel supplies originate from Russia and that Ukrainian strikes on those plants damage the global fuel market. Trump added that the ongoing shortage of gasoline and diesel is driven by the Russia-Ukraine war, not by events in the Middle East. Kyiv has defended the attacks, calling the refineries lawful military objectives that diminish Russia’s oil revenue and hamper its ability to fund the invasion. Recent Ukrainian raids have indeed lowered Russian fuel inventories, prompting concerns about broader energy security. The White House released a recording of the remarks, highlighting Trump’s continued involvement in the conflict’s diplomatic discourse.
- Sep 14 Trump posted on Truth Social that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to halt energy attacks.
- Sep 15 Ukrainian drones and missiles struck an Ozon warehouse in Taganrog and damaged an industrial facility in the Samara region.
- Sep 15 Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian assault on Lyman.
- Sep 16 Lavrov announced Russia's readiness to resume US‑Ukraine‑Russia negotiations and a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the UN General Assembly.
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