KYIV, Ukraine – Russian drones struck Kyiv in a major daylight attack on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring more than 40 as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to address the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Kyiv authorities reported strikes and fires across several districts of the capital, including at fuel stations, transport infrastructure, warehouses and commercial facilities. The attack disrupted rail services temporarily and sent smoke across parts of the city.
The casualty count changed during the day as emergency crews continued working at damaged sites. Reuters reported two deaths and 45 injuries, while Ukrainian authorities subsequently reported more than 40 people injured.
The attack came as Zelenskyy was in New York for the annual U.N. gathering, where he was seeking continued international support for Ukraine and discussing air defense, energy security and possible measures to reduce attacks on critical infrastructure.
Daylight strikes hit multiple parts of Kyiv
The Kyiv city government reported damage in several districts on September 23.
Among the locations affected were fuel stations and transport facilities. A drone also struck a pharmaceutical company facility, according to Ukrainian authorities, while fires broke out at warehouses and other sites.
Kyiv’s railway authorities temporarily suspended Kyiv City Express services because of the heightened air threat. One railway employee was also reported injured.
Reuters reported that a nine-story non-residential building, a business center and warehouses were damaged. The agency also reported that several fuel stations were hit.
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The strikes continued the pattern of repeated Russian aerial attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Attack came as Zelenskyy addressed world leaders
Zelenskyy was scheduled to speak at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday as part of Ukraine’s diplomatic campaign during the annual high-level gathering.
The United Nations’ 81st General Assembly high-level week is running from September 22 through September 29, with heads of state and government addressing the Assembly during the general debate.
In his address, Zelenskyy called for continued international pressure on Russia and warned about the consequences of the war extending into another winter.
He also discussed Russia’s use of drones and Ukraine’s need for stronger defenses. Reuters reported that Zelenskyy was seeking additional U.S.-made Patriot air-defense systems as Kyiv prepared for further attacks on its energy infrastructure.
The Ukrainian president had also met U.S. President Donald Trump in New York as the two sides discussed the possibility of an agreement limiting attacks on energy infrastructure.
No agreement covering a broader halt to the aerial campaign had been reached.
Moscow says it targeted military and energy infrastructure
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had struck Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities, logistics centers and vessels during the attacks.
The ministry also claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted more than 500 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, Crimea and waters around the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. Those Russian claims could not be independently verified in the reporting reviewed.
Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones against targets inside Russia, including oil refineries that contribute to the country’s fuel supply.
Zelenskyy has linked those strikes to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, arguing that a halt to Russian attacks would allow Kyiv to consider reciprocal steps.
The competing attacks have complicated efforts to establish an energy-focused ceasefire.
Air defenses face growing pressure
The latest Kyiv attack also underscored Ukraine’s continuing need for additional air-defense systems.
Ukraine relies on a mixture of Western-supplied systems and domestically produced capabilities to defend cities and critical infrastructure. Patriot systems are particularly important for intercepting ballistic missiles, while other systems are used against drones and cruise missiles.
The AP reported that Patriots were already in short supply, in part because of demand generated by the separate Iran war.
The pressure comes as Russia has expanded its use of drones, including faster jet-powered systems that Ukrainian officials say are more difficult to intercept.
Zelenskyy has sought additional defensive equipment from international partners while warning that Russian attacks could intensify against Ukraine’s power system as winter approaches.
The strikes add pressure to a fragile diplomatic track
The Kyiv attack occurred during a period of renewed diplomatic activity but without a broader ceasefire in place.
Zelenskyy has proposed an arrangement under which Russia would stop attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure while Ukraine would take reciprocal steps. Russia has not accepted such an arrangement.
The Kremlin said Wednesday that there were no concrete plans for a high-level meeting that could break the negotiating deadlock, while maintaining that Moscow remained open to peace talks.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was also in New York for diplomatic meetings during the U.N. gathering.
The continued attacks demonstrate the gap between discussions about de-escalation and conditions on the ground.
For Kyiv, the immediate concern remains protecting civilians and infrastructure while maintaining enough air-defense capacity to withstand further attacks.
For Zelenskyy, the strikes provided another backdrop to his appeal for international support at the United Nations.
Reporting Credit: Kyiv City State Administration — information on damage, fires, casualties and disruptions in the capital; Office of the President of Ukraine — Zelenskyy’s U.N. participation, diplomatic meetings and statements; Ukrainian State Emergency Service — emergency response information; United Nations — General Assembly high-level week and official proceedings; Russian Defense Ministry — Russian military statements concerning the targets and scale of its attacks.
