Topic: Air attacks
-
Budanov: Drone Deal partners may gain access to Ukraine's jet-drone interception technology
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Euronews that countries holding Drone Deal cooperation agreements with Kyiv may negotiate access to new Ukrainian technologies for intercepting Russian jet-powered drones. He said Ukraine is already using the technology experimentally in combat, where it succeeds in most cases, and that the main challenge is scaling up production before the harshest part of winter.
-
Russian strikes trigger emergency blackouts across Kyiv region and three oblasts
On 30 September, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure caused emergency power outages in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Chernihiv Oblast, and Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine's Ministry of Energy said. The emergency cuts were later replaced by scheduled stabilization outages as restoration work continued.
-
More than half of Ukraine's F-16s grounded by Belgian maintenance delays
A Wall Street Journal report says more than half of Ukraine's F-16 fighters are non-combat-ready because phased technical inspections carried out by Belgian contractor Sabena Aerospace Engineering under a U.S. contract are taking far longer than in the United States. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed to the Financial Times that roughly half the fleet is in long-term repair in Europe and said Ukraine wants to move most of that maintenance onto its own territory with Western support. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesman publicly disputed the 'catastrophically low' readiness framing, saying turnaround times are actually shortening.
-
Russia extends diesel export ban through end of October amid fuel crisis linked to Ukrainian drone strikes
Russia has extended its ban on diesel fuel exports for producers until October 31, 2026, as a domestic fuel shortage aggravated by Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries continues. The move comes alongside a parallel gasoline export restriction running until January 31, 2027, and a recent decree by President Vladimir Putin classifying information about Russia's fuel and energy complex.
-
Drone crashes in Moldova during Russian mass strike on Ukraine; Chișinău summons Russian envoy
A drone entered Moldovan airspace on the morning of 30 September 2026 and exploded after colliding with a communications mast near the village of Hyrbovăț in Anenii Noi district, during a large Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine. A second drone was detected later in the morning, Moldova temporarily shut parts of its sky, the foreign minister condemned the violation, and the Russian ambassador was summoned.
-
Drone strikes on energy infrastructure in occupied Crimea cause power and water outages across multiple districts
On the night of September 30, 2026, drone strikes hit energy facilities in occupied Crimea, causing power and water outages across several districts and municipalities. The Russia-controlled operator Krymenergo confirmed damage to electrical substations without specifying causes. Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed 330 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, while Ukrainian forces had not commented at the time of reporting.
-
Ukraine's F-16 pilots have shot down over 3,150 aerial targets, Air Force commander says
Commander of the Air Force of Ukraine Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko stated that Ukrainian F-16 pilots have downed more than 3,150 aerial targets and carried out over 650 airstrikes against ground targets since the aircraft entered service. A Ukrainian delegation led by Kryvonozhko met with representatives of Lockheed Martin to discuss expanding the F-16 fleet's capabilities and the prospect of transitioning to newer modifications, including the F-16 Block 70/72.
-
Russia launches massive combined missile and drone strike on Kyiv overnight, killing civilians including a child
In the night of 29–30 September 2026, Russia carried out a large-scale combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine with the main strike direction targeting Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast. Ukrainian air defense reported intercepting 5 ballistic missiles and 155 of 188 launched drones. Two women were killed in Kyiv and a child died in Vyshhorod, where rescuers pulled three survivors from the rubble of a destroyed house. Fires and damage were recorded in four Kyiv districts and across multiple Kyiv Oblast districts, and 8,000 Kyiv households lost power before DTEK restored supply.
-
Ukraine and Belgium agree on transfer of three F-16 jets by year-end
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on 29 September that Ukraine and Belgium had reached an agreement to transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of the year under an expedited procedure. Zelensky said Ukraine had already received ammunition for F-16s from Belgium and other countries including Spain, and thanked Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and the Belgian government for their support.
-
Russian guided bombs hit Sumy school during classes; two killed, children among wounded
On 29 September 2026, Russian forces struck the city of Sumy with guided aerial bombs, one of which hit a school in the Zarichnyi district where classes were in session. Children and staff were sheltering at the time; about 100 people were evacuated and no injuries were reported at the school. Two people were killed in their homes in the private residential sector, and multiple children were among the wounded. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack and called on Ukraine's international partners to increase pressure on Russia.
-
Ukraine's farmers face funding crunch as Black Sea exports remain blocked, minister warns
Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky has warned that Ukrainian farmers are running out of money, with a more severe funding crisis likely in spring due to the continued blocking of Black Sea grain exports. The European Commission declined Ukraine's request for €220 million in farmer support, and Ukraine is instead counting on a $250 million concessional loan from the World Bank.
-
Kyiv endured over 10 continuous days of air raid alerts in one month, Ukraine's security council says
Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Ihor Klymenko reported on September 29 that Kyiv recorded 235 air raid alerts between August 27 and the time of reporting, totaling 261 hours — more than 10 continuous days under threat. He said the capital has been under almost continuous attack by Russian jet-powered drones for about a month and described the situation as a new challenge for Ukrainian air defense requiring rapid technological solutions and mass production of interception means.
-
Russian mobile air-defense groups likely using Chinese QW-18/19 MANPADS, observed in Rostov training
Russian mobile fire groups have likely begun fielding Chinese-made QW-18/19 man-portable air defense systems, according to imagery collected from training in Rostov Oblast. Russian personnel refer to the weapon as "Iva," and the launchers carry no markings, which investigators say may indicate an effort to conceal the country of origin.
-
Russia hits Kyiv and ten oblasts in large overnight missile and drone attack
Russia launched a large overnight missile and drone strike on 28–29 September 2025, hitting Kyiv and at least ten oblasts. Ukrainian air defense said all incoming missiles and 106 drones were intercepted, but the salvo damaged a major Kyiv railway depot, data and business centers, residential buildings, energy infrastructure and two foreign vessels in Odesa region.
-
US signs $20.7 billion preliminary deal with Raytheon to ramp up AMRAAM missile production
The US Department of Defense has reached a preliminary multi-year agreement worth $20.7 billion with Raytheon, a division of RTX, to accelerate production of AMRAAM missiles. The contract is part of a broader Pentagon effort to rebuild munitions stockpiles drawn down by transfers to allies and US military operations.
-
Ukraine's defense minister asks EU for Patriot missiles and funding for drone interceptors
Ukraine's Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara addressed EU defense ministers on September 28 at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, asking member states to transfer part of their Patriot missile stockpiles to Ukraine and to help finance Ukrainian production of interceptors for jet-powered Shahed-type drones. He also requested air-to-air missiles, man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), and F-16 ammunition, and called on partners to move EU loan funds planned for 2027 into 2026.
-
Russian drone strike near Yahodyn border crossing prompts Polish military scramble, airport shutdowns
On 28 September, a Russian reactive drone struck near the Yahodyn international border crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border in Volyn Oblast. Poland scrambled military aviation, placed air-defence and radar systems on alert, and suspended operations at Rzeszów and Lublin airports. No casualties were reported, but the blast wave damaged the entry-terminal building of the checkpoint, according to the head of the Volyn Oblast Military Administration.
-
Russian drone strikes Kyiv's National Academy of Sciences building, killing at least two
On 28 September 2026, a Russian jet-powered drone struck the Presidium building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) in central Kyiv around 13:30, causing a large fire and partially destroying the second and third floors of the historic structure. At least two people were killed — including the personal assistant of NASU Vice-President Volodymyr Horbulin — and multiple others were injured; some NASU staff remained unreachable after the strike. President Zelensky promised a Ukrainian response, Foreign Minister Sybiha called on UNESCO to strip Russia of voting rights, and the strike drew condemnation from European leaders and institutions.
-
Ukraine hits two Russian defense plants, oil and drone sites in multi-region strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces struck two Russian defense plants in the Tula and Voronezh regions overnight on September 28, alongside oil facilities in Krasnodar Krai, drone-launch sites in Kaluga and Oryol, targets in Bryansk, and a target in the Black Sea. SBU units struck oil facilities in Krasnodar during the day, and Russian authorities reported downed drones and damage in Voronezh region.
-
Ukrainian drones hit Edelweiss-95 oil depot in Krasnodar Krai, SBU claims four depot strikes overnight
In the night of 28 September 2026, drones struck the Edelweiss-95 oil depot in stanitsa Novotitarovskaya, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, sparking a fire. Ukraine's SBU said it struck four oil depots in the region overnight using drones from its Alpha Special Operations Center. Russian regional authorities had not officially confirmed the attack at the time of initial reporting.