Topic: Humanitarian situation
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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.
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Ukraine says Russia used civilians, including children, as cover while retreating through gas pipeline near Kupiansk
Ukraine's National Guard 'Khartiia' corps says reconnaissance drones recorded Russian forces on 27 September leading nine civilians — including children, elderly people and one person on crutches — out of the Kupiansk community in Kharkiv Oblast through the 'Shebelinka — Ostrohozk' gas pipeline. Khartiia says men of military age in civilian clothes walking alongside the group were Russian soldiers who had removed their uniforms, and that the children and elderly were forced to walk more than 10 kilometres inside the pipe. Ukrainian forces saw the group but did not open fire because of the civilians present; the military says the footage will be passed on for a war crimes investigation. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly characterized the actions as the use of Ukrainian civilians as a 'human shield' and as gross violations of international humanitarian law.
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Russian guided bomb strike on Kharkiv residential building injures dozens, including many children
On the night of 28 September, Russian forces struck the Kyivskyi and Saltivskyi districts of Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs. One bomb hit a multi-storey residential building in the Saltivskyi district, destroying the second and third floors and injuring dozens of people, including many children. Search-and-rescue operations concluded with no one found under the rubble, though emergency services rescued 32 people from the damaged building.
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Zelenskyy: Russia launched over 2,200 strike drones at Ukraine in one week, calls de-escalation signals "fake"
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on September 27 that Russia launched more than 2,200 strike drones, approximately 1,650 aerial bombs, and 38 missiles — many ballistic — at Ukraine over the past week. In a single recent day Russia used 277 strike drones, 155 of them jet-powered. Zelenskyy called Russia's diplomatic signals about de-escalation fake, said the strikes on kindergartens and schools amount to terrorism, and announced that new sanctions packages and the U.S. Lindsay Graham law are being prepared for October.
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Russian drone strikes 9-story residential building in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district
On 27 September, a Russian jet-powered Shahed-type drone struck a 9-story residential building in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district at the 4th–5th floor level, sparking a fire and injuring one woman. The strike was part of a broader day-long drone attack on the capital that damaged kindergartens, schools, a car-service station, the residence of the Saudi Arabian ambassador, and the Kyivstar head office, with nine people injured citywide by evening.
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Ukrainian forces deliver 4 tonnes of food by drone to occupied Oleshky as humanitarian crisis deepens
Ukrainian forces used drones to deliver about 4,000 kg of food to 100 locations in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, one of the largest such operations since systematic drone deliveries across the Dnipro began in March. Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces shoot down delivery drones, seize or resell the food, and detain and beat residents who receive aid. The situation has been raised at the UN Security Council, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha comparing the blockade to the 1932–1933 Holodomor.
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Russian strikes kill two, injure several in Kharkiv Oblast; Metalist stadium hit by FPV drone
Over the past day, Russian forces struck Kharkiv city and 21 settlements across Kharkiv Oblast, killing two people and injuring others including four children, according to the head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov. The OSK Metalist stadium in the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv was also hit by a Russian FPV drone on September 26, 2025, with its facade damaged and no casualties reported at the venue.
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Russian strike hits Dnipro, fire reported as casualty details emerge
Russian forces struck the city of Dnipro, causing a fire at the site of the attack. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, Oleksandr Hanzha, reported the strike and said information about victims was being clarified.
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Russian drones strike Kiliia in Odesa Oblast overnight, hitting port and civilian infrastructure
Russian forces attacked the city of Kiliia in Odesa Oblast with Shahed drones overnight on September 27, damaging port and civilian infrastructure. The Izmail District State Administration reported no casualties; a fire at the strike site was extinguished by State Emergency Service rescuers.
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Russian drones strike Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast overnight, one killed, several injured
On the night and morning of 27 September 2026, Russian drones struck multiple districts of Kyiv and parts of Kyiv Oblast, killing one man in the Solomianskyi district and injuring at least three people including two 16-year-old girls in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Fires were reported at a warehouse, an auto service station, an office building, and a school, while the logistics company Zammler confirmed its Brovarskyi district warehouse was hit. The strikes were part of a nationwide barrage of 170 strike drones, of which 147 were reportedly shot down or suppressed by 07:30.
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Russian drone strikes on Odesa kill one, damage warehouses and homes
Russian drone strikes hit Odesa city and Odesa Oblast on the evening of 26 September and into 27 September, killing one person and wounding two others. The attacks damaged a production workshop, warehouses, residential buildings, a hotel and a medical facility, and sparked a large-scale fire that drew more than 140 rescuers.
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Russia launches 170 drones at Ukraine overnight; 147 shot down, hits recorded in multiple oblasts
On the night of September 27, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 170 strike drones, 76 of them jet-powered, including Shahed, Gerbera and 'Parodia' decoy types. Ukrainian air defense had destroyed or suppressed 147 of them by 07:30, with hits at 18 locations and debris at 8 more. Strikes hit sites in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Dnipropetrovstsk oblasts, killing at least three people.
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Ukraine proposes Oleshky evacuation, accuses Russia of blocking it as starvation reports mount
Ukraine has proposed a temporary ceasefire and land corridor to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, but says Russia has rejected the plan. Ukrainian officials describe a humanitarian catastrophe with no food deliveries since late May, cases of starvation, and civilians trapped by mines and shelling, while Kyiv appeals to the UN, ICRC, Council of Europe and Pope Leo XIV for help.
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Council of Europe rights chief calls for ceasefire, evacuation in occupied Oleshky
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty has called for an immediate local ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and the evacuation of civilians from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region, where residents face severe hunger, lack of medicine, water, and electricity. No food deliveries have reached the town since late May, and the only road in is mined and monitored by drones. O'Flaherty cited the Fourth Geneva Convention in holding Russia, as the occupying power, responsible for providing for the population.
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Russia launches 295 drones at Ukraine overnight; 267 intercepted, hits reported at 16 locations
On the night of 24–25 September 2026, Russia attacked Ukraine with 295 strike drones of various types, including 52 jet-powered Shaheds, Gerbera, Banderole/Dan-T munitions, and Parodia decoy drones. Ukrainian air defense shot down or suppressed 267 of them, but hits were recorded at 16 locations and falling debris at 4 more. Fires broke out in two districts of Kyiv and three districts of Kyiv Oblast, a hospital in Zaporizhzhia was damaged, and injuries were reported in both cities.
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Ukraine says it obtained Russian plans for winter strikes on energy infrastructure, details defensive preparations
Ukraine's Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukrainian intelligence obtained two Russian documents detailing Moscow's planned strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure this winter. The documents contain tables specifying targets, weapons and munition allocations. Shmyhal described protective construction and tripled reserve stockpiles, and said Ukraine will continue deep strikes on Russia if energy attacks continue.
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Norway announces 85 billion kroner ($9 billion) Ukraine aid package for 2027
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced an 85 billion Norwegian kroner (approximately $9 billion) aid package for Ukraine for 2027 during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on 23 September. The majority of the funding will go to military assistance, with air defence as a key priority, alongside humanitarian aid and energy infrastructure protection.
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Russia launches large-scale combined missile and drone strike on Ukraine overnight, killing two in Kyiv
On the night of 24 September 2026, Russia attacked Ukraine with Zircon anti-ship missiles, Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 282 drones, with the main strikes directed at Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast and Odesa Oblast. Ukrainian air defence destroyed or suppressed 227 targets. Two people were killed and eight injured in Kyiv, and damage was reported in multiple regions.
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Russian overnight strike hits Odesa hospital, school, residential buildings
Russian forces launched a massive combined attack on Odesa and Odesa Oblast overnight into 24 September, damaging a hospital, a gymnasium, residential buildings, a previously struck hypermarket and other civilian infrastructure. Two people were injured. Ukrainian authorities have opened a war-crime investigation.
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Russia launches massive ballistic missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight
Russia struck Kyiv overnight on 23–24 September with a combined ballistic missile and drone barrage, killing two people and injuring at least eight across multiple districts. President Zelensky said 60% of the ballistic missiles aimed at Kyiv were intercepted and that the strike coincided with his meeting with U.S. congressmen about the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill. The attack came hours after Ukraine agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire and 51 UN member states called on Russia to follow suit.