Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Russia Strikes Zaporizhzhia After Ukraine's Massive Drone Barrage
Russia and Ukraine launched large numbers of drones at each other over the weekend.
Russian drones struck the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia and other regions.
Ukrainian officials said five people were hurt in Zaporizhzhia.
They said some apartment buildings, a university, and a shopping mall were hit.
Russia said Ukraine had attacked Russia with more than 1,000 drones.
Russia also said its defenses stopped 244 Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine said it stopped or disrupted 148 Russian drones.
A drone or other flying object also entered Moldova's airspace.
The continuing attacks show that peace talks have not yet stopped the war.
Russian drones struck apartment blocks, a university, and a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, injuring five people.
Ukraine said Russia also attacked nine other Ukrainian regions during the overnight bombardment.
Russia said its air defenses downed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Black Sea.
Ukraine said it shot down or suppressed 148 Russian drones in an overnight attack.
Moldova temporarily closed northern airspace after detecting an unidentified aerial object entering its territory.
- Who
- Russian and Ukrainian forces; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu are also mentioned.
- What
- Russia and Ukraine exchanged large-scale drone attacks, while Moldova reported an unidentified aerial object entering its airspace.
- When
- The attacks occurred over the weekend and overnight into Monday; Russia's strike on Zaporizhzhia occurred late Sunday.
- Where
- Zaporizhzhia and nine other Ukrainian regions, Russian regions and the Black Sea, and northern Moldova.
- Why
- The Russian Defence Ministry said its strikes targeted military-related logistics hubs, warehouses, and ports; the broader attacks occurred amid an ongoing war and stalled diplomatic efforts.
Ukrainian and Moldovan Accounts
Russian Account
Purpose and impact of the strikes
Ukrainian and Moldovan Accounts
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia struck civilian locations in Zaporizhzhia and was escalating the war, while Moldova reported repeated airspace violations without identifying the object.
Russian Account
The Russian Defence Ministry said its overnight attacks targeted military-related logistics hubs, warehouses, and ports.
Reported drone totals
Ukrainian and Moldovan Accounts
Ukraine said it shot down or suppressed 148 Russian drones and said Russia had attacked Zaporizhzhia and nine other regions.
Russian Account
Russia said its air defenses downed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Black Sea, after Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones.
Responsibility for Moldova's incursion
Ukrainian and Moldovan Accounts
Moldovan authorities confirmed an aerial object entered their airspace but did not establish whether it was Russian or Ukrainian; Moldovan officials have often blamed Moscow for previous incidents.
Russian Account
No specific Russian account or attribution for the Moldovan incident was provided.
- Zaporizhzhia casualties
- Five people were wounded, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Damage reported
- Apartment blocks, a university, and a shopping mall were among the sites hit in Zaporizhzhia.
- Ukrainian drone attack
- Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia from Saturday to Sunday, according to the report.
- Russian drone claim
- Russia said its air defenses downed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Black Sea.
- Ukrainian air-defense claim
- Ukraine said it shot down or suppressed 148 Russian drones overnight.
- Moldovan airspace
- Moldova temporarily closed part of its northern airspace after detecting an aerial object shortly after midnight.
- Diplomatic setting
- World leaders are gathering for the United Nations General Assembly, where Zelenskyy expects to meet Donald Trump.