Russia Launches Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine

Russia launched a massive aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities over the past week, firing more than 2,000 attack drones, 1,700 air bombs, and 19 missiles, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The barrage, which included turbojet-powered drones capable of high speeds, targeted civilian and critical infrastructure across multiple regions, including Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. The attacks underscored the escalating drone warfare between the two nations. In a retaliatory move, Ukrainian forces launched over 1,000 drones at Russia on Sunday, September 20, including hundreds aimed at Moscow, coinciding with the final day of Russia's parliamentary elections. Russia's Defence Ministry stated its forces targeted Ukrainian logistics hubs, warehouses, and ports in overnight strikes, while its air defenses downed 244 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces reported a significant milestone in their campaign against Russian air defenses, having destroyed or damaged 300 confirmed targets in 2026. This includes 37 systems knocked out between September 10 and 18.