UN Business or not, Russia Continues to Strike Ukrainian Cities and Kill Unarmed Ukrainians 

Even though the bastion of global peace and goodwill began its 81st UN General Assembly session on Manhattan’s Eastside, half way around the world Russia continues to pound Ukrainian cities with aerial bombs, missiles and drones, killing Ukrainian men, women and children.

Since Sunday, September 20, Russia has maintained an intensive air campaign against Ukraine, highlighted by a massive, multi-wave missile and drone barrage overnight.

Key developments from the roundup include:

1. Massive Overnight Barrage (September 21–22)

 Scale of the Attack: Russian forces launched a complex strike involving various missile types (including Oniks anti-ship missiles, Iskander-M/S-400/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and Kalibr cruise missiles) alongside a massive swarm of 212 drones (including Shaheds, Gerberas, and jet-powered/decoy UAVs).  

Air Defense Response: Ukraine’s air defense forces reported intercepting or electronically jamming 186 aerial assets (including 177 drones and several specialized missile variants).  

Impact & Hits: Despite high interception rates, strikes and falling debris were recorded across 22 locations, primarily targeting industrial, energy, and logistical infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and Kirovohrad oblasts. In Poltava, a Naftogaz/critical infrastructure facility was hit by multiple ballistic missiles.  

2. Focus on Logistics, Retail, and Warehousing

Odesa Region Hubs: Continuing a pattern of targeting supply chains, a Russian strike hit a major Silpo supermarket distribution center in Odesa. Additionally, warehouse facilities in Odesa Oblast—including a site associated with the WHO—sustained damage from ongoing strikes.  

Industrial Targets: Major industrial sites, businesses, and warehouses were directly struck in southeastern cities like Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Pavlohrad.  

3. Casualties and Regional Power Cuts

Casualties: Across the country, the recent wave of attacks has killed at least 8 people and injured dozens of others, with casualties reported in Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.  

Infrastructure & Power: Energy infrastructure strikes caused localized disruptions, including a major power outage affecting nearly 100,000 consumers in the northern Chernihiv region.