Russia Launches Large-Scale Missile and Drone Attack Across Ukraine
Russia has unleashed a massive wave of missile and drone attacks across nine regions of Ukraine, killing at least three people and injuring dozens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the strikes deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure and residential areas, including a multi-story building in Dnipro hit by a cluster munition. Ukraine's air force reported that it intercepted the majority of the 619 projectiles launched, crediting Western-supplied air defence systems, including F-16s, for their effectiveness in the engagement.
Unpacked:
The strike is part of a recent escalation in Russia’s offensive campaign, with the attack on September 19-20 being one of the largest in weeks, possibly intended to pressure Ukraine as both sides experience intense fighting and shifting frontlines.
Western-supplied air defence systems, including F-16s, have significantly improved Ukraine’s ability to intercept incoming missiles and drones, with Ukrainian forces reportedly stopping the majority of the 619 projectiles in this particular assault.
Cluster munitions disperse multiple smaller bomblets, increasing the risk of civilian casualties and unexploded ordnance, which can injure or kill long after an attack, making their use in residential areas a violation of international humanitarian norms.
Recent weeks have seen an increase in both the scale and intensity of Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, with the September 19-20 attack being among the largest since earlier phases of the war.