drones

Russia launched 172 drones overnight on 20-21 September, with 148 destroyed or jammed, as its September aerial blitz continues. Bloomberg reports Moscow is stockpiling ballistic missiles for winter strikes on energy infrastructure, raising concerns about the coming cold months.

Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow on 20 September, with over 1,600 drones. The Moscow Oil Refinery was hit, damaging a key unit and causing a major fire, while a residential building strike killed at least two. The attack, using multiple Ukrainian long-range weapons, is part of a coordinated campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian drone attacks hit the Moscow oil refinery (supplying 40% of the capital's fuel) and the Yaroslavl refinery (Yanos) within four days, knocking out key distillation units. The strikes disrupt fuel supplies for Russia's military and civilian economy, part of a sustained campaign to degrade Russian refining capacity.

Russia continues its nightly mass drone and missile attacks on Ukraine into a third week, with Zircon missiles failing to hit targets but drones striking 15 locations. Diplomacy stalls as the Kremlin rules out a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, and the UN warns of a winter humanitarian catastrophe.

The EU announced €3.3 billion more for Ukraine’s missiles and drones on 18 September, following a €6.1 billion package a week earlier. Commission President von der Leyen also launched a joint EU-Ukraine programme to develop the Freyja anti-missile system, aiming to reduce Europe’s reliance on US defence suppliers.

Russia launched 80 drones at Ukraine on the night of 15-16 September, with 63 downed, following a 200-drone attack the previous night. The sustained aerial campaign has hit infrastructure and civilian areas across the country, while the UN warns of a winter catastrophe and the Kremlin rules out a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas says a drone shot down by a NATO fighter jet over southern Lithuania on 15 September appears to have had no explosives. Earlier, bomb disposal experts neutralised a device at the site. The drone, which entered from Belarus, may have originated from Russia, according to Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. An investigation is under way.

Ukraine has field-tested four interceptor drones for jet-powered Shaheds and reported a fresh successful test on 15 September. Defence Minister Khmara says the next step is scaling production to thousands, as Russia's use of these drones jumps by at least 67% in a month.

Russia struck Ivano-Frankivsk for the first time in its current blitz, using over 450 drones in a single day. The Kremlin ruled out a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting at the G20. The UN warns of a winter humanitarian catastrophe as energy infrastructure is systematically targeted.

On 13 September, Russia fired more than 450 attack drones at Ukraine, a new daily record, after launching over 400 the previous day. Strikes hit 23 locations, killing civilians in Sloviansk, Dnipro, and Yasnohirka.

On 9 September 2026, Russian drones struck three districts of Kharkiv, damaging residential buildings and wounding two people. The attacks are the latest in a series of strikes targeting Ukraine's second-largest city.

Russian forces launched ballistic missiles and 167 drones overnight, striking 23 locations across Ukraine as part of an intensified week-long blitz. At least three civilians were killed in the past 24 hours, including a medical worker whose ambulance was set on fire. Moscow deployed over 10,000 kamikaze drones in a single day on 11 September.

Canada announced C$350 million for interceptor missiles for Ukraine, plans to expand joint drone production, and provided nearly US$29 million for veterans support. Ottawa also sanctioned Russian officials involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

Russian forces launched ballistic missiles and 167 drones on 11 September, striking 23 locations and killing a civilian in Sloviansk. The attack is part of a week-long campaign targeting energy and civilian infrastructure, with Moscow also deploying over 10,000 kamikaze drones in a single day on the battlefield.

Drones attacked Moscow and Yaroslavl Oblast on 28 August, forcing the closure of a major motorway and triggering Russian air defenses. The strike fits a pattern of deeper Ukrainian drone operations targeting infrastructure, fuel terminals, and chemical plants.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 149 drones overnight on 10 September; 128 were shot down. Residential areas in Kryvyi Rih were hit, with two civilians undergoing surgery. The assault caps a week of heavy strikes on energy infrastructure and civilian areas, with over 1,000 drones and missiles launched since 6 September.

Norwegian PM reveals Zelenskyy’s plane was nearly hit by a drone en route to Oslo. Ukraine races to reach 90% interception rate for Russian drones this autumn, with 67 firms now producing interceptors. Zelenskyy offers Germany drone-defense expertise after Russian-linked Leipzig attack.

Russian forces struck Kyiv Oblast for a third straight night with missiles and 196 drones, setting a food plant ablaze. Germany unveiled a protective shield against Russian sabotage. The WHO confirmed three of its Ukraine warehouses were destroyed.

Ukraine unveiled the Magura V11 naval drone, a new FPV strike drone, and a jet-powered UAV set for European production, while striking a Russian oil refinery, a Wildberries hub, and a $100m radar system. The developments show a rapidly industrialising drone sector with increasingly sophisticated capabilities.

Russia launched missiles and 166 drones overnight on 7-8 September, striking 29 locations including Kyiv Oblast. Air defence downed 175 targets. The attack follows a record month of 2,800 jet-powered drones and the destruction of three WHO warehouses.