At least five people have been killed and more than a dozen injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over a 24-hour period, according to Ukrainian regional authorities. The strikes hit Kyiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, while Ukrainian forces reported a counteroffensive near the strategically important eastern city of Lyman.
The attacks and battlefield claims were reported on 15 September 2026. Ukrainian officials also said Russia launched about 200 drones overnight, with 187 intercepted by Ukrainian air defences. The claims have not been independently verified.
Russian strikes hit several Ukrainian regions
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least 12 people were injured in strikes on the capital during the morning. One critically injured person later died in hospital, bringing the reported death toll in Kyiv to one.
Police said warehouses, a business centre and a fast-food restaurant were damaged. Ukrainian media reported that the restaurant was a McDonald’s, although the reported damage has not been independently verified.
Further casualties were reported in southern and eastern Ukraine:
- In Kherson, a 74-year-old woman was killed in a Russian drone strike, according to regional military administration head Oleksandr Prokudin.
- Two men, aged 38 and 60, were wounded in a separate drone attack in Kherson region, local authorities said.
- In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one man was killed and a woman injured in an attack that reportedly targeted electricity infrastructure.
- Two people were killed and another injured in strikes on Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast, according to local authorities.
Ukraine’s armed forces said 187 of approximately 200 drones launched overnight by Russia had been intercepted. The statement did not provide a full account of damage or identify how many drones reached their intended targets.
Ukraine reports strikes inside Russia
Ukraine’s military also reported attacks on targets in Russia. The Ukrainian General Staff said Special Operations Forces had struck the Syzran oil refinery, including its primary crude-oil distillation unit and a tank farm.
The Ukrainian military separately reported an attack on the Atlant Aero facility in Taganrog. The site was described as specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles and related components. Details of the damage were not independently confirmed.
Reports of attacks on infrastructure inside Russia form part of Ukraine’s wider effort to disrupt fuel supplies and military production. However, the immediate operational and economic impact of the reported strikes remains unclear.
Ukrainian unit announces counteroffensive near Lyman
The reports came as the commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps, Andrii Biletskyi, said the unit had launched an offensive operation near Lyman in Donetsk Oblast. In a video shared on Telegram, he said Ukrainian forces had cleared an area of around 75 square kilometres.
The battlefield claim has not been independently verified, and the statement did not provide detailed information about the location of the operation, the forces involved or the current position of the front line.
Lyman remains strategically important because of its position in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces have been trying to encircle the city for months, while Ukrainian control of the area has helped limit further movement towards Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Those cities are among the main Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk.
Any change around Lyman could therefore affect supply routes and the wider military balance in the region. Nevertheless, claims of territorial gains during active fighting require confirmation from multiple reliable sources.
Why the attacks matter
The latest Russian strikes underline the continuing pressure on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, particularly from long-range drones. Damage to power-related facilities in Zaporizhzhia also highlights the vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy network as the war continues.
The reported Ukrainian attacks on Russian industrial and military facilities show that the conflict remains active beyond the front line. Strikes on refineries and drone-related sites may affect military logistics, but their consequences cannot yet be assessed from the available information.
For European governments, the developments remain relevant to security, humanitarian assistance and support for Ukraine. The attacks may also influence discussions over air-defence supplies, sanctions and diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. No new European Union decision was reported in connection with the incidents.
What happens next?
Further information is expected from Ukrainian authorities, Russia’s defence authorities and independent observers about the reported casualties, damage and military activity near Lyman. Independent verification is particularly important because both sides regularly publish claims about battlefield developments and attacks that may be difficult to assess during ongoing combat.
Local authorities are also expected to continue assessing damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. The reported casualties could change as emergency services complete their work and hospitals provide updated information.
Conclusion
The latest EU news from the region is dominated by the continuing war in Ukraine, where Russian strikes reportedly killed at least five people and injured more than a dozen across several regions. Ukraine has also claimed major drone interceptions, attacks on sites inside Russia and a counteroffensive near Lyman. The immediate impact of those military operations remains subject to verification, but the events show that the conflict continues to carry serious consequences for Ukraine and wider European security.
