Kyiv Hit Again by Ballistic Missiles After Major Russian Drone Assault
Russian attacks on Kyiv intensified early Thursday, September 24, 2026, as ballistic missiles struck the Ukrainian capital, killing two people and injuring six, according to local authorities, less than a day after a major drone assault targeted rail infrastructure, warehouses and fuel stations.
The new missile attack extended a wave of strikes that began Wednesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York and pushed for greater international pressure on Moscow.
Russian attacks on Kyiv continue with ballistic missiles
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the capital came under ballistic missile attack in the early hours of Thursday.
Ukrainian authorities reported two deaths and six injuries, while emergency crews were dispatched to several areas of the city.
The strike followed less than 24 hours after a large Russian drone attack on Kyiv.
Drones hit railway infrastructure and fuel facilities
Russia’s Wednesday attack targeted railway infrastructure, warehouses and fuel stations across the Ukrainian capital.
Emergency crews battled fires while officials assessed damage across several districts.
Internet services were also disrupted for around 100,000 households, according to Reuters.
Casualty figures increased during the day as rescue operations continued, with the Associated Press reporting two deaths and dozens of injuries.
Attack coincides with Zelenskyy’s U.N. diplomacy
The strikes came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Zelenskyy urged international leaders to increase economic pressure on Moscow and continued pressing allies for additional air-defense capabilities.
Ukraine has repeatedly sought additional U.S.-made Patriot systems as Russian missile and drone attacks intensify.
Jet-powered drones strain Ukraine’s defenses
Russia has increasingly deployed faster jet-powered variants of Shahed-type drones, according to Reuters.
The drones operate at speeds and altitudes that make them more difficult for mobile Ukrainian air-defense teams to intercept.
The changing threat has forced Ukraine to seek new and cheaper interception technologies as conventional air-defense missiles remain expensive and limited in supply.
More than 2,100 drones launched in September
Ukrainian officials say Russia launched more than 2,100 drones and 136 missiles during September through earlier this week.
The strikes have increasingly targeted transport networks, ports, energy facilities and other economic infrastructure.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has expanded its own long-range campaign against Russian oil refineries and logistics infrastructure.
Washington discusses a limited ceasefire
U.S. officials said Russia and Ukraine had shown interest in a possible limited ceasefire involving energy infrastructure and grain-related activity.
The U.S. secretary of state cautioned, however, that reaching such an agreement would be difficult.
Zelenskyy has previously offered to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy network.
Energy remains central to Trump-Zelenskyy talks
Energy infrastructure has become one of the central issues in diplomatic discussions involving Kyiv, Moscow and Washington.
The strikes affect not only the war itself but also global oil and fuel markets, already under pressure from disruptions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz.
Can a partial truce still happen?
Despite diplomatic discussions over a limited ceasefire, battlefield developments show no clear reduction in the pace of attacks.
Kyiv has now faced major Russian strikes on consecutive days, while Ukraine continues attacking targets inside Russia.
Any future agreement would therefore require clear definitions of protected infrastructure, monitoring mechanisms and procedures for handling alleged violations.
Kyiv faces a growing air-defense challenge
Ukraine’s capital increasingly faces a combination of conventional drones, faster jet-powered systems and ballistic missiles.
That mix is placing greater pressure on Ukraine’s air-defense network and increasing demand for additional interceptor missiles and Patriot systems.
Profile News continues to track the war through its 24-hour breaking news page.
Sources
- Reuters — Russia pounds Kyiv with drone strikes
- Reuters — Ballistic missile attack hits Kyiv
- Associated Press — Russia pounds Kyiv with drones
- Reuters — Jet-powered drones strain Ukraine’s air defenses
