Overnight missile and drone attacks struck several Ukrainian regions as world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly.
22 Sep 2026
Russian forces launched widespread attacks targeting industrial sites and critical energy infrastructure across multiple Ukrainian regions, killing at least three people and knocking out power to nearly 100,000 residents, Ukrainian officials reported.
The overnight strikes simultaneously hit industrial facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk region, including Dnipro, Pavlohrad, and Kryvyi Rih—the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha stated on Telegram on Tuesday.
Three people were killed and six others were wounded in Dnipro, where missiles, drones, and artillery heavily damaged business and warehouse premises, Hanzha noted.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Moscow’s overnight barrage involved 212 drones, four cruise missiles, and an unspecified number of Oniks antiship and ballistic missiles.
The strikes also damaged energy infrastructure. An attack on a power facility left nearly 100,000 consumers without electricity in the northern region of Chernihiv, while in the Poltava region, Governor Vitalii Diakivnych stated that a “massive” Russian attack hit an industrial enterprise and a critical infrastructure facility.
The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed its forces carried out major strikes, asserting they targeted industrial and military facilities, the fuel and energy sector, port infrastructure, and sea vessels operating for the Ukrainian military.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Samara region along the Volga River, killing one person and injuring four, according to the local governor. The region hosts critically important facilities, including oil refineries.
The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defence units intercepted and destroyed 297 Ukrainian drones across various regions overnight.
Diplomatic Push in New York
The attacks coincide with Zelenskyy’s arrival in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where discussions on ending the war are expected to be high on the agenda as nearly 130 heads of state gather.
The Ukrainian president wrote on X that a “drone deal” was ready to be signed to bolster air defence and secure funding for the war effort.
“Of course, Ukraine’s number one priority is bringing peace closer and protecting the lives of our people,” Zelenskyy posted. “There are concrete security proposals and de-escalation measures that could bring the end of the war closer. We are working to strengthen air defence and ensure sufficient financing for Ukraine.”
He said, “Around 20 meetings are planned, including with the US president, European leaders, US senators and members of the House of Representatives, heads of international organisations, leading American companies and think tanks.”
Zelenskyy met French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday and is likely to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Earlier, Macron also met Trump, after which he stated that the two countries agreed to work together to secure a moratorium on strikes targeting energy networks and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Both Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are set to address the UNGA later this week.
![France's President Emmanuel Macron meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 21, 2026 [Ludovic Marin/AFP]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==)
