Drone Assault on Ukraine on September 28
In the early hours of September 28, Russia launched a massive drone offensive against Ukraine, deploying 165 unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, and various other regions. The attacks resulted in civilian injuries and fatalities, including among children, and caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed the majority of the drones. Investigations are ongoing to identify the precise weaponry used.
On the morning of September 28, a drone struck a gas station in Kyiv's Obolon district, igniting a fire and damaging fuel pumps. Another drone hit a café nearby in the Holosiivskyi district. In Kharkiv, an attack on a nine-story residential building in the Saltivskyi district wounded 25 people, including nine children aged between 3 and 15 years. In the Kyiv region, three residents died and eight were injured within 24 hours.
Details of the Attack and Its Impact
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, starting from 6 PM on September 27, the enemy launched various types of combat drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Parodier decoys. Out of the 165 drones, 79 were missile-type UAVs approaching from Russian territories such as Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Shatalovo, as well as from occupied areas of Donetsk and Hvardijske in Crimea. By 7 AM on September 28, Ukraine’s air defense systems had downed or neutralized 112 drones. Drone impacts were recorded at 14 locations, with debris from destroyed UAVs falling across seven sites.
In Kyiv, four people were injured during the attacks. Three were minors in the Podil district, where a non-residential building caught fire and its roof partially collapsed. The shockwave shattered windows in a neighboring residential block. Two 15-year-olds—a boy and a girl—received on-site medical assistance, while a 17-year-old boy was hospitalized, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Another individual was wounded in the Holosiivskyi district when a drone struck a private two-story home.
In Kharkiv, around 4 AM on September 28, a strike hit a nine-story apartment building. The weapon used is still being identified, with preliminary assessments suggesting a guided aerial bomb, possibly the UMPB-5. On the evening of September 27, a Russian drone attack targeted a residential area in Novhorod-Siverskyi, Chernihiv region, injuring four people, including two children. Timur Tkachenko reported that 21 civilian facilities across five districts sustained damage during these assaults.
The offensive continued with several enemy drones still active in the air, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
This attack is part of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has persisted for several years. The increasing use of drones to target civilian zones raises serious safety concerns. The involvement of children among the victims underscores the humanitarian toll of this war and emphasizes the urgent need to enhance protective measures for civilians in conflict areas.
The recent surge in drone attacks is not an isolated incident. Just days prior, Russia conducted a similar operation targeting Kyiv and its surroundings, where they deployed 134 UAVs, resulting in numerous casualties. This escalation in aerial assaults highlights the ongoing threat to civilian safety and infrastructure. For a closer look at the previous offensive and its implications, see our detailed coverage on the recent drone assault on Kyiv.