In the early hours of Saturday, September 20, 2025, Russia launched an extensive missile and drone attack across various Ukrainian regions, leading to at least three deaths and dozens wounded, according to Ukrainian officials.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that these assaults targeted nine regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
He stated that the enemy’s objective was Ukrainian infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian businesses. A missile armed with cluster munitions notably struck a multi-story building in Dnipro.
Zelenskyy emphasized that such strikes are not military necessities but rather a deliberate Russian tactic to intimidate civilians and devastate Ukraine’s infrastructure, conveying this message via his official Telegram channel.
Looking ahead, President Zelenskyy announced his anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump next week during the United Nations General Assembly. He also mentioned that the First Ladies of Ukraine and the United States would likely engage in separate discussions on humanitarian issues concerning children.
These remarks, initially made on Friday, September 19, 2025, were under embargo until Saturday morning.
In Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, Governor Serhii Lysak reported at least 26 injuries. The city of Dnipro saw several high-rise buildings and homes damaged. Meanwhile, in the Kyiv region, strikes were reported in Bucha, Boryspil, and Obukhiv, damaging a residence and vehicles. Governor Maxim Kozytsky of the western Lviv region confirmed that two cruise missiles were successfully intercepted.
Ukraine’s Air Force detailed that Russia launched a total of 619 drones and missiles. Of these, 579 drones, eight ballistic missiles, and 32 cruise missiles were detected. Ukrainian forces successfully shot down or neutralized 552 drones, two ballistic missiles, and 29 cruise missiles.
“During the air strike, tactical aviation, specifically F-16 fighters, proved highly effective against the enemy’s cruise missiles. Western weaponry continues to demonstrate its significant impact on the battlefield,” the Air Force announced.
**Russia Denies Airspace Violation Over Estonia**
In a separate development, Russia’s Defence Ministry refuted claims by Tallinn that its aircraft had violated Estonian airspace. Estonia had reported that three Russian fighter jets intruded into its territory on Friday without permission, remaining for 12 minutes.
Estonian officials had described this incident as an “unprecedentedly brazen” incursion, occurring just over a week after NATO planes intercepted Russian drones over Poland, sparking concerns about the potential for wider conflict.
Moscow issued an online statement early Saturday, asserting that its fighter jets maintained their flight path over neutral Baltic Sea waters, more than 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Estonia’s Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland.
“On September 19, three MiG-31 fighter jets completed a scheduled flight from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad region,” the statement read, referring to the Russian exclave situated between Polish and Lithuanian territories. It added that “the flight was conducted in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed through objective monitoring,” though specific monitoring details were not provided.
Following the alleged violation, Estonian officials had summoned a Russian diplomat to issue a protest and initiated “consultations among the allies” under NATO’s Article 4, which mandates discussions when a member’s territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened.
President Zelenskyy is also hoping to finalize long-term security guarantees during his upcoming New York meetings. He stated that Ukraine and its partners have established the foundation for these guarantees and aims to assess the progress towards their completion.
He noted that European nations are ready to advance with a framework, provided the United States remains actively involved, and confirmed that discussions have occurred across multiple levels, including military leadership and general staffs from Europe and the U.S.
Zelenskyy expressed his desire to “receive signals for myself on how close we are to understanding that the security guarantees from all partners will be the kind we need.”
He also emphasized that sanctions against Russia must remain an option if peace efforts stagnate, intending to press this point in his discussions with Trump. Zelenskyy concluded that “if the war continues and there is no movement toward peace, we expect sanctions,” noting that Trump seeks decisive action from Europe.