28 September 2026 | 09:52

READING: 5 minutes

New Russian attacks hit Ukraine overnight and in the early hours of Monday, 28 September 2026. Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Odesa and other regions were targeted with drones and aerial bombs. In Kharkiv, a strike hit a residential building, with reports of dozens of injuries including children. Media outlets have reported that three people were killed and eight injured in the past 24 hours, while other local figures indicate higher numbers.

The latest incident occurred in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine. Local authorities said a Russian guided aerial bomb struck a nine‐story residential building in the early hours of Monday. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported at least 25 people injured, including nine children.

Moscow-launched drones also struck central Kyiv in broad daylight today, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Attacks on Kyiv have become frequent. A fire broke out in a building belonging to the Academy of Sciences; at least one woman was reported killed, though local district officials in Shevchenkivskyi said there were multiple victims. Yesterday evening, two people were killed and four wounded in a raid on the Stolichny market on the outskirts of Kyiv, where a fire broke out in the wholesale food market. Strikes also affected residential buildings, communications infrastructure, petrol stations and commercial premises.

In Odesa region a vessel flying the Palau flag was hit, and in Zhytomyr a factory producing ice cream was damaged. Attacks on homes were reported in Sumy and Rivne, while critical infrastructure was struck in Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytskyi and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Zelensky: “Russia launched thousands of attacks in one week”

In a message published after the strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced a new wave of bombardments across several regions of the country.

Citing figures, Zelensky said that over the last week Russia launched more than 2,200 attack drones, roughly 1,630 aerial bombs and 38 missiles of various types, including ballistic missiles.

The president linked the new wave of attacks to the need to strengthen air defenses, the energy system and financial support for Kyiv. He also reported damage to residential buildings, communications infrastructure, petrol stations and energy facilities across numerous regions.

Ukraine would agree to halt strikes on Russian refineries only if Russia consents to an energy-sector ceasefire, a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent, adding that Kyiv has not so far given its consent. On 14 September, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Ukraine and Russia had reached an agreement on a ceasefire in the energy sector.

Neither side has confirmed such an agreement, nor has there been a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure. Zelensky has repeatedly said Kyiv is prepared to cease fire if the Kremlin honors agreed terms. “We are ready. I am not sure Russia is ready, at least for now,” he said at a press conference after meeting Trump on 22 September.

Trump said he asked Zelensky to “slow down” attacks on Russian oil refineries. “The big problem is that refineries in Russia are exploding. It’s not so much a Middle East problem as a Russian problem, because Ukraine and Russia are at war and Ukraine has been blowing up diesel refineries in Russia, which process large quantities of oil. So this situation is really interesting. I spoke with President Zelensky and told him, ‘You have to slow down with the refineries.’ He replied, ‘We will probably do that,'” Trump told reporters.

EU aid and sanctions

On the European front, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas called for increased pressure on Russia through further sanctions. “We need to increase pressure on Russia with additional listings in the EU sanctions regime to target the military‐industrial complex and Russia’s finances to stop the conflict,” she said upon arriving at the Foreign Affairs Council in Defence format in Brussels.

“We are reviewing all proposals put forward by member states to ensure they constitute solid dossiers that can withstand potential legal scrutiny: for this reason the procedure takes time,” Kallas added.

The High Representative described as “deplorable” the decision by member states to remove some Russian oligarchs from the sanctions list. She noted, however, that “we must acknowledge this and focus on the positive: 2,998 people will be sanctioned for three years and the mechanism has been inverted, so removing names now requires the consent of all, whereas extending sanctions no longer requires unanimity.”

Ireland has also urged that all options remain open to provide financial support to Kyiv. “All options to ensure financial assistance to Ukraine must remain on the table, including frozen assets,” said Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. “Some colleagues have raised unresolved issues, but the European Commission has committed to examine the points raised to see if a way forward can be found: we must continue to engage on this topic,” McEntee added.

At the European level, the minister spoke of “significant progress” in support for Ukraine, citing the unlocking of the European Peace Facility and the loan already disbursed to Kyiv. “Ukraine has already received 15 billion of the loan and it is essential to allocate the remaining portion as soon as possible,” she said, adding: “We must ensure that all funds planned for this year are paid out and that further assistance is provided at the start of next year.”

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