Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Injure at Least 19 in Ukraine, Including Children

KYIV, Sep 17: Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight, injuring civilians and damaging residential buildings and other infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities said. Children were among those reported injured in the attacks. Later Ukrainian reports put the number of wounded in Kyiv at 20, while an earlier account cited at least 19 casualties.

Ukraine’s military administration said the attacks hit more than 10 locations in the capital, while dozens of sites were damaged across the wider Kyiv region. Odesa was also affected, with several people injured and residential buildings damaged.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it had destroyed or suppressed 131 Russian aerial targets during the overnight assault across Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions. The attack involved a combination of drones, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and decoys.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces carried out retaliatory strikes against targets inside Russia. He said the operations included an attack on the Yaroslavl oil refinery and a military airfield in the Rostov region. Ukrainian officials said the operation involved several security and defence agencies.

Zelenskyy-Trump Meeting Expected at UN General Assembly

Diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine remain stalled, with territorial issues and security guarantees continuing to complicate negotiations.

US President Donald Trump has previously said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacks on energy facilities. However, Zelenskyy said Kyiv would support such an arrangement only if Russia also halted strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was prepared to support a broader truce covering attacks on energy facilities as well as the Black Sea. He said, however, that Ukraine had not yet seen evidence that Moscow was prepared to accept the same conditions.

Sybiha also said preparations were under way for a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He said a potential agreement covering both energy infrastructure and Black Sea activity could be discussed during the meeting.

Drone Incident Reported Near Polish Border

A drone struck a petrol station near Ukraine’s border with Poland, Polish officials said. Polish air defences were activated after a jet-powered drone approached the country’s airspace.

The drone reportedly exploded several kilometres from the Polish border. The incident came days after Russian drones struck areas near crossings along the Polish-Ukrainian frontier, raising further concerns about the conflict’s impact on neighbouring countries.

Civilian Vessel Attacked in Black Sea

A Russian drone struck a civilian vessel flying the Tanzanian flag in the Black Sea on Thursday, killing its captain and injuring three crew members, according to Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry. The ship was travelling toward a Ukrainian port when it was attacked.

Ukrainian officials said the incident highlighted continuing security risks for commercial shipping and international maritime routes in the Black Sea. The ministry called for stronger international measures to protect civilian vessels and port infrastructure.

Ukraine Reports Strikes on Russian Targets

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces also targeted Russian military and energy facilities during overnight operations. Ukrainian officials said the Yaroslavl refinery and a military airfield in Rostov were among the targets.

Russia’s Defence Ministry, meanwhile, reported strikes on Ukrainian industrial, energy and transport facilities. It also said that several vessels were hit in the port of Chornomorsk.

Both sides have continued reporting attacks on infrastructure as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire remain unresolved.

Ukraine Receives Bodies of 252 Soldiers

Ukraine said it received the bodies of 252 soldiers from Russia as part of ongoing exchanges of remains.

The Ukrainian agency responsible for prisoners of war said the remains would undergo identification and examination. Such exchanges have continued alongside broader negotiations between the two sides.

US Sanctions Bill Draws Ukrainian Support

Ukrainian officials welcomed the US House of Representatives’ approval of a sanctions package targeting Russian officials and important sectors of the Russian economy.

Kyiv said the measures could increase economic pressure on Moscow and restrict resources used to support its military campaign. The Kremlin, however, warned that additional sanctions could make diplomatic efforts to reach a peace agreement more difficult.

The developments come as fighting continues across Ukraine and diplomatic efforts remain focused on possible arrangements involving energy infrastructure, the Black Sea and broader security guarantees.