UPDATE: A massive attack by Russia on Ukraine has resulted in at least three fatalities and dozens of injuries, according to reports from Ukrainian authorities. The assault occurred overnight from September 22 to September 23, 2023, involving over 600 drones and missiles, as confirmed by the Ukrainian Air Force.
The strikes targeted multiple regions, including the central city of Dnipro, the wider Dnipropetrovsk area, and parts of Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia. Communities in Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv also suffered from the assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, stating, “The enemy aimed at our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises.”
One missile reportedly struck an apartment building in Dnipro using cluster munitions, emphasizing the civilian impact of this assault. Zelenskyy described these strikes as “not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians and destroy our infrastructure.”
This latest wave of attacks is part of a broader pattern, with Russia intensifying long-range strikes against Ukraine in recent weeks. Just last week, approximately two dozen Russian drones breached Polish airspace, marking a significant escalation, as it was the largest incursion of Russian drones into NATO territory. Polish and Dutch fighter jets intercepted and shot down at least three of these drones.
In response to increasing threats, NATO has launched Operation Eastern Sentry, designed to bolster air defense along the alliance’s eastern border. Some officials, including Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski, have called for more aggressive measures, advocating that NATO should target Russian drones operating over western Ukraine.
Meanwhile, calls for heightened international sanctions against Russia are growing. Zelenskyy urges global leaders to take decisive action against Russia’s continued aggression, warning that without a “truly tangible response,” the situation will worsen. “If sanctions and tariffs are postponed, if the Russian army can already launch drones with impunity even against Poland—Putin will continue to see it as permission to wage war,” he stated.
As the situation develops, the international community’s response will be critical in shaping the future of the conflict. With civilian lives at stake and infrastructure under threat, Ukraine’s allies are urged to act swiftly to deter further aggression.
Stay tuned for more urgent updates on this developing story.