Russia Ukraine attacks intensified on September 28 as Kyiv, Dnipro and several other cities came under a new wave of drone strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said nine people were killed and more than 80 injured across the country, while Ukraine reported fresh counterstrikes on Russian defence and energy targets.
Kyiv strike
A jet-powered drone struck the main building of Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv, causing a major fire and heavy damage. Zelensky said an assistant to senior Ukrainian official Volodymyr Horbulin was killed, while Horbulin was injured.
Another jet-powered drone hit a hospital building in the capital. Ukrainian officials said the attacks formed part of a wider barrage that included more than 120 drones during the day, around 90 of them jet-powered.
Dnipro strike
Dnipro also suffered a deadly attack when a drone hit a business centre. Authorities reported deaths and at least 19 injuries as emergency crews evacuated dozens of people from the burning building.
The strikes extended beyond Kyiv and Dnipro, with residential and civilian sites also damaged in Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and other regions.
Kharkiv strike
Kharkiv and the surrounding region were also targeted during the continuing Russian campaign. Ukrainian authorities reported damage to residential areas, while emergency teams worked to clear debris and assist injured civilians.
Zelensky said Russia had launched thousands of drones, guided bombs and missiles over the previous week, arguing that Moscow was increasing pressure on Ukrainian cities as winter approaches.
Ukraine counterstrikes
Ukraine said it responded with long-range attacks on Russian military and energy infrastructure. Zelensky reported strikes on two defence plants in the Tula and Voronezh regions, as well as oil facilities in Krasnodar Krai.
He also said Ukrainian forces hit facilities in Kaluga and Oryol used for drone operations and struck a target in the Black Sea. These claims came from Ukrainian authorities and have not all been independently verified.
EU sanctions
The European Union increased pressure on Moscow by sanctioning 10 individuals and 17 entities accused of involvement in the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children.
The EU said the listings included Russian officials, camps and organisations involved in assimilation, indoctrination and military-oriented education. The measures include asset freezes and travel restrictions.
The latest attacks underline how the war continues to widen beyond the front line, with both sides increasingly using long-range strikes against strategic targets. Kyiv is pressing allies for stronger air defences and tougher consequences for Russia, while Moscow continues to argue that its operations serve its national and military objectives.
For Ukraine, the immediate challenge is the growing use of faster jet-powered drones. Zelensky said Ukraine’s interception rate against these systems remains significantly lower than against conventional drones, making improved air defence one of Kyiv’s most urgent priorities.
