Zelensky: Russia launched over 2,000 drones, 1,700 bombs and 19 missiles at Ukraine in one week
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported via Facebook that Russia fired more than 2,000 strike drones, 1,700 aerial bombs and 19 missiles at Ukraine during a single week, with the majority of drones being jet-powered. He detailed strikes on infrastructure and residential areas across at least nine regions and called on international partners to impose new sanctions and pursue "peace through strength."
Key points
- Zelensky reported more than 2,000 strike drones launched by Russia in one week, most of them jet-powered.
- Russia also launched 1,700 aerial bombs and 19 missiles of various types in the same week, according to Zelensky.
- An FPV drone struck a men's monastery in Kherson region, killing one monk and wounding four.
- Strikes hit critical and civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv, Sumy and Odesa regions, and residential buildings in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
- Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Cherkasy regions were also attacked from the evening of September 19.
- Ukrainian air defense shot down 101 of 138 drones during the nighttime attack that began on the evening of September 19.
- Zelensky called on the US, Europe and G7 to impose new sanctions on Russia and push for "peace through strength."
Why it matters
The weekly totals cited by Zelensky describe an unusually high volume of Russian strikes across drone, bomb and missile categories, pointing to an intensified aerial campaign. Hits on infrastructure and civilian sites, including a religious building, highlight the continuing humanitarian and infrastructure toll. Zelensky framed the figures as a basis for renewed Western sanctions and a "peace through strength" push.
What happened
On September 20, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook that Russia had launched more than 2,000 strike drones, 1,700 aerial bombs and 19 missiles of various types at Ukraine during the preceding week. He said the majority of the drones were jet-powered.
He listed strikes across multiple regions. In Kherson region, an FPV drone hit a men's monastery the previous day, killing one monk and wounding four. Critical and civilian infrastructure was struck in Kharkiv, Sumy and Odesa regions, while residential buildings were hit in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Cherkasy regions came under attack from the evening.
Separately, Ukrainian air defense reported engaging 138 drones during the nighttime attack that began on the evening of September 19 and shot down 101 of them. Zelensky used his post to call on the United States, Europe and G7 countries to impose new sanctions on Russia and to "push for peace through strength."
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All three supplied articles come from Ukrainian outlets (Ukrinform, Interfax-Ukraine and Suspilne Novyny) and lead with Zelensky's weekly strike tally. The coverage centers the human cost, particularly the monastery strike in Kherson region, and emphasizes the geographic spread of attacks across at least nine regions. Zelensky's call for new sanctions and a "peace through strength" approach is woven into the storyline as a direct policy ask of Western partners.
Background
The drone and bomb totals cover strikes accumulated over a week, and Ukrainian air defense engaged a specific wave of 138 drones during the nighttime attack that began on the evening of September 19, shooting down 101 of them.