Russia launches 163-drone overnight attack on Ukraine, hitting residential building in Odesa
In the night of September 2–3, Russia attacked Ukraine with 163 strike drones, including jet-powered Shaheds, S8000 "Banderol" small cruise missiles, Gerbera drones and "Parodia" decoys launched from Millerovo, Orel and occupied Donetsk and Crimea. Ukrainian air defense shot down or suppressed 135 of the targets by 08:30, but hits were recorded at 15 locations and falling debris at four more. A multi-story residential building in Odesa was struck, with sources giving differing casualty figures; damage and injuries were also reported in Kyiv Oblast's Boryspil district and in Khmelnytskyi region.
Key points
- 163 strike drones launched overnight September 2–3, including jet-powered Shaheds, S8000 "Banderol," Gerbera and "Parodia" decoys.
- Launch directions: Millerovo, Orel (Russia), and occupied Donetsk and Gvardiiske in Crimea.
- As of 08:30, air defense shot down or suppressed 135 targets.
- Hits recorded at 15 locations; debris from downed drones fell at 4 additional locations.
- A multi-story residential building in Odesa was struck; sources report 8 injured (Serhiy Lysak) or 17 injured including 3 children, with 20 apartments and 12 vehicles damaged.
- Injuries and damage to warehouses, an administrative building and shops were reported in Boryspil district, Kyiv Oblast.
- In Khmelnytskyi region, two strikes caused fires at warehouses and injured one man.
- Attack repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Why it matters
The strike illustrates Russia's continued tactic of mass overnight drone attacks combining jet-powered Shaheds with small cruise missile-type drones like "Banderol" and Gerbera decoys, diversifying the strike types used against Ukrainian cities. Despite engaging most of the incoming drones, air defenses registered hits at 15 locations, and a residential building in Odesa was directly struck with civilian casualties including children. Damage and injuries were also reported in Kyiv Oblast and Khmelnytskyi region, underlining the nationwide scope of the attack.
What happened
On the night of September 2–3, starting from 18:00 on September 2, Russia launched 163 strike drones at Ukraine from the directions of Millerovo and Orel in Russia and from temporarily occupied Donetsk and Gvardiiske in Crimea. The drones included Shahed-type UAVs (about half of them jet-powered), S8000 "Banderol" small cruise missiles, Gerbera drones and "Parodia" decoys. By 08:30 on September 3, Ukrainian air defense had shot down or suppressed 135 of the targets, but enemy air attack means hit 15 locations and debris from downed drones fell at four more. The attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Odesa was struck in a combined attack with jet-powered UAVs and "Banderol" small cruise missiles, and a multi-story residential building was hit. The head of the Odesa City Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, reported 8 people injured in the building; other reporting cited 17 injured including 3 children, with 20 apartments and 12 vehicles damaged. Emergency services worked at the scene providing assistance. In the Boryspil district of Kyiv Oblast, one man was injured and warehouses, an administrative building and shops were damaged. In Khmelnytskyi region, two strikes set fire to warehouses and injured one man. As of 08:30, the attack was still ongoing with enemy UAVs remaining in Ukrainian airspace.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ on the casualty count from the Odesa multi-story building strike: Serhiy Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, reported 8 people injured, while other reporting cited 17 injured including 3 children, with 20 apartments and 12 vehicles damaged. One source dates the Odesa apartment building attack to the night of September 2 rather than the night of September 3.
Background
Odesa had already come under a massive Russian air attack on the night of September 2 that damaged infrastructure and residential buildings, preceding the broader September 2–3 strike. That earlier attack combined reconnaissance and reactive drones with "Banderol" small cruise missiles. As of the 08:30 reporting time on September 3, the latest attack was still ongoing with enemy UAVs remaining in Ukrainian airspace.