Russian Attack on Ukraine Prompts Poland to Scramble Fighter Jets
Russian Attack on Ukraine with missiles and nearly 160 drones struck Kyiv and several other regions overnight into Thursday, September 17, injuring more than 20 people and damaging infrastructure, while neighboring NATO member Poland scrambled fighter jets after Russian strikes hit western Ukraine close to the Polish border.
According to Reuters, air-raid sirens sounded in eastern Poland and flights were temporarily suspended at the airports of Rzeszow and Lublin during the Russian operation. The Polish military later said no violation of the country’s airspace had been recorded and that its aircraft had completed their missions.
Russian Attack on Ukraine Includes Nearly 160 Drones
Ukraine’s air force said the Russian barrage included Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, four other cruise missiles and nearly 160 drones. It did not provide a complete breakdown of how many missiles were intercepted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said eight regions suffered damage. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 20 people were wounded in the capital as explosions and air-defense activity were heard through the night.
The latest attack follows weeks of intensified aerial warfare. Earlier fighting included large-scale drone attacks alongside efforts to discuss a possible halt to strikes on energy infrastructure.
Captain Killed in Black Sea Vessel Strike
Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian drone struck a Tanzania-flagged civilian vessel heading toward a Ukrainian port, killing the ship’s captain and injuring three crew members.
Officials also reported casualties and damage in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian authorities said a facility owned by steel producer Metinvest was struck again in Zaporizhzhia.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces targeted industrial, military, energy and transportation facilities in Ukraine. The competing battlefield claims could not all be independently verified.
Poland Activates Fighter Jets Near Ukraine
Poland activated military aircraft after Russian strikes hit western Ukraine close to the border. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a major attack had taken place “very close to the Polish border.” The Polish military later said no breach of national airspace had been detected.
Poland and other NATO members on the alliance’s eastern flank have closely monitored Russian missile and drone activity as attacks increasingly reach western Ukrainian regions. Previous fighting has also featured hundreds of drones and long-range strikes by Russia and Ukraine.
New U.S. Sanctions Legislation Targets Russia
The attack came after the U.S. House of Representatives approved a sweeping sanctions and tariff package targeting Russian officials and key sectors of the Russian economy. The measure passed 262-159 after receiving Senate approval last month and now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Zelenskyy welcomed the legislation, saying stronger sanctions could increase pressure on Moscow to end the war. The Kremlin said additional U.S. sanctions would make efforts to reach a peace agreement more difficult.
Energy infrastructure also remained a target on both sides. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow. Russian regional authorities confirmed that a fire broke out and was later extinguished.
The continued strikes come despite recent discussions over limiting attacks on energy infrastructure and Black Sea targets, with no comprehensive ceasefire agreement in place.
Report Sources: Profile News, Reuters, AP, Reuters.
