Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Russia and Ukraine Trade Strikes as Zelenskyy Seeks Energy Truce
Russia and Ukraine attacked each other again with missiles and drones.
Russian attacks killed people in Ukraine and damaged homes and other civilian places.
Ukraine attacked an oil refinery in Russia, where Russian officials reported one death and four injuries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to New York to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy wants both countries to stop attacking energy facilities at the same time.
He also wants more air-defense systems to protect Ukraine.
Russia is using faster jet-powered drones that are harder for Ukraine to shoot down.
The fighting continues even while the two countries discuss smaller steps toward reducing the war.
Russian missile and drone strikes killed four people across at least four Ukrainian regions, officials said.
Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery in the Samara region, killing one person and wounding four, according to Russian officials.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to New York to meet Donald Trump and seek support for de-escalation efforts.
Zelenskyy is proposing matching pauses in attacks on energy infrastructure and seeking additional Patriot air-defense systems.
Russia's jet-powered Shahed drones are harder to intercept, with Ukraine reporting a 60 percent interception rate.
- Who
- Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and U.S. President Donald Trump.
- What
- The two countries exchanged missile and drone strikes while Zelenskyy pursued an energy-infrastructure truce and additional U.S. support.
- When
- The strikes occurred on Tuesday; Ukrainian officials also reported figures for the first three weeks of September.
- Where
- The attacks affected multiple Ukrainian regions and Russia's Samara region; Zelenskyy traveled to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- The attacks were part of the continuing war, while Zelenskyy sought matching restrictions on strikes and stronger protection for Ukraine.
Ukraine's Position
U.S. Concern
Attacks on Infrastructure
Ukraine's Position
Zelenskyy says any Ukrainian restraint, especially regarding energy infrastructure and food exports, should be matched by Russia.
U.S. Concern
Trump has expressed concern about damage to Russian refineries and pressed Zelenskyy to stop Ukraine's attacks on them.
Military Response
Ukraine's Position
Ukraine says its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure are a response to Moscow's continuing attacks.
U.S. Concern
The reported pressure from Washington reflects concern that attacks on Russian refineries could damage efforts to reduce the conflict.
- Deaths in Ukraine
- Four people were killed in overnight Russian missile and drone strikes, according to Ukrainian officials.
- Strike in Russia
- Russian officials said Ukraine's attack on an oil refinery in the Samara region killed one person and wounded four.
- Jet-powered drones
- Ukraine reported intercepting about 60 percent of the jet-powered drones.
- Older drones
- Ukraine reported intercepting more than 90 percent of older propeller-driven drones.
- September launches
- Ukrainian officials said Russia launched about 2,100 jet-powered drones and 136 missiles in the first three weeks of September.
- Reported September deaths
- Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said the attacks killed 288 people, including four children.
- Proposed truce
- Zelenskyy is seeking matching pauses in attacks on energy infrastructure and support for protecting Black Sea grain shipments.