Russia has carried out one of the largest aerial attacks of the war on Ukraine, firing over 600 drones and missiles in a coordinated overnight bombardment that left four dead and dozens injured.
The assault, which began in the early hours of Sunday, September 28, targeted multiple cities and critical infrastructure across the country.
According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia deployed 595 drones and 48 missiles, including cruise and ballistic types.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 43 cruise missiles and neutralized most of the drones, but the scale of the attack highlighted the ongoing vulnerability of Ukraine’s airspace.
In Kyiv, the capital, four people were killed—including a 12-year-old girl—and 42 others were injured. The Cardiology Institute was among the damaged facilities. In Zaporizhzhia, 31 people sustained injuries following strikes in the southern region.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a “war against civilians,” noting its timing coincided with the conclusion of the UN General Assembly week. “This vile attack… is exactly how Russia declares its real position,” he said.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha warned that continued aggression could accelerate efforts by the EU and UK to repurpose frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s defense. Poland, reacting to the proximity of the threat, scrambled fighter jets in its airspace early Sunday.
Despite the bombardment, Ukraine is bolstering its defenses. Zelensky confirmed the arrival of a Patriot missile system from Israel and expects two more from Germany, describing them as “critical.”
He also announced progress on a $90 billion weapons deal following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, who declared Ukraine now has the capacity to “fight and WIN” the war.
Russia, meanwhile, claimed its forces had conducted a “massive strike” on Ukrainian military industries and airfields.
