Kyiv: Russia launched a major overnight wave of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine on September 19, with Ukrainian officials reporting civilian deaths and injuries in several regions.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 174 drones along with two Zircon anti ship missiles during the overnight attack. The main targets were reported to be the Kyiv and Odesa regions.
Ukraine said its air defence forces destroyed or neutralised 141 incoming aerial targets. The Air Force reported that the Russian missiles did not reach their intended targets, while strikes and falling debris were recorded at multiple locations.
At Least 8 People Reported Killed
- Civilian casualties were reported in several regions.
- In Kharkiv region, officials said Russian attacks across 14 settlements killed five people and injured 15 others.
- In Kherson region, three people were reported killed and five injured after Russian shelling affected several communities.
- Together, those regional reports account for at least eight deaths.
- Other areas were also affected. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian attacks involving drones, artillery and aerial bombs damaged warehouses, a medical facility, a shopping centre and residential buildings. Two people were reported injured.
- In Odesa, an administrative building was damaged and emergency responders were among those injured, according to Ukrainian officials.
Black Sea Vessels Targeted
- The latest escalation also involved commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
- Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces attacked two commercial vessels, saying they were being used to transport supplies intended for Ukrainian forces.
- According to the Russian account, one vessel was a Ukrainian dry cargo ship travelling toward Odesa, while another was a tanker located at the port of Odesa.
- The claims about the vessels and their alleged military cargo could not be independently verified.
- The attacks follow another Russian strike on a civilian vessel earlier in the week. On September 17, a Russian drone struck a Tanzanian flagged cargo ship in the Black Sea, killing its captain and injuring three crew members, according to Ukrainian officials.
Poland Raises Air Defence Readiness
- The scale of the Russian attack also prompted Poland to activate its military aviation and raise the readiness of its air defence and radar systems.
- Polish authorities said fighter aircraft were deployed because of the heavy Russian drone activity close to Poland’s border with Ukraine.
- Poland later said the operation had ended and that there was no violation of Polish airspace.
War Continues Despite Peace Efforts
- The latest attacks come as diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war remain stalled.
- The United States has been involved in efforts to encourage negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, but major disagreements remain, particularly over territory and security guarantees.
- Ukraine has also proposed a possible truce covering attacks on energy infrastructure and the Black Sea.
- However, the continued missile and drone attacks show that fighting remains intense across multiple parts of Ukraine.
Business Galaxy Fact Check
- The report that Russia launched a large scale overnight attack on Ukraine on September 19 is genuine.
- Ukraine reported 174 drones and two Zircon missiles, with 141 aerial targets neutralised.
- The reported death toll can vary depending on the timing and geographic area covered by different reports. Ukrainian regional officials reported at least eight deaths in Kharkiv and Kherson regions, while other casualties were also reported elsewhere.
- Russia’s claim that two commercial vessels were targeted because they were carrying military supplies remains a Russian government claim and has not been independently verified.
- The latest attacks underline the continuing intensity of the Russia-Ukraine war despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
