Russian forces conducted a large-scale drone offensive against Ukraine on the night of 23-24 September, striking multiple cities including Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

The attacks resulted in fires, damaged residential buildings, and civilian casualties, continuing a pattern of strikes against urban areas in frontline regions.

Ukraine intercepts majority of incoming drones

On 24 September, Russian forces launched 152 strike drones of various types, including Shahed and “Gerbera” models, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

Ukrainian air defense systems successfully neutralized 126 of the incoming threats through combined efforts involving aviation units, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare systems, and mobile fire groups.

The remaining 26 drones struck seven locations across the country, while debris from intercepted drones caused additional damage at two sites.

Russia drops aerial bombs on Zaporizhzhia 

Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine twice during the night, using what officials preliminarily identified as FAB high-explosive aerial bombs. The attacks targeted the Shevchenkivsky district, damaging one apartment building and dozens of private houses.

The bombardment triggered multiple fires across the city, with emergency services responding to four separate blazes. A store building, utility structures, and other facilities caught fire, while residential buildings and vehicles sustained damage.

 “You don’t even have time to get scared. It all happens in a second,” Maryna Lyashko, who witnessed the Zaporizhzhia attack, told Suspilne News.

“I lay down to rest because I have work tomorrow, and the chandelier fell right in front of me,” she added.

Eighty-two-year-old resident Yuriy Babak described the intensity of the attack to Suspilne:

“The explosion was around two in the morning. It was as if the roof was lifted up and then lowered. It was very loud… It hasn’t been like this in all the years of war. I didn’t think that at such an age I would have to experience this.” 

Botanical garden damaged

The city’s Botanical Garden also suffered extensive damage, with greenhouse windows shattered and doors torn from utility buildings.

Director Tamara Yeromina described to Suspilne the destruction to the park’s decades-old plant collection:

“There’s a lot of damage… The shell hit right in the park and plants there are damaged. In the park there are plants that are already over 50 years old, these are plants that have been living with us for so many years.”

District administration head Mayer noted the escalating pattern of attacks:

“This is already the third night we have serious hits. Yesterday it was on the neighboring street, work is not yet finished, and today the strike hit here.”

The latest attack follows a previous Russian strike on 23 September, when six aerial bombs hit Zaporizhzhia, killing two people and injuring 15 others. 

Russian drones destroy homes and cars in Kharkiv

The assault on Kharkiv began at approximately 10:10 p.m. on 23 September, with residents reporting 17 explosions over the course of an hour. Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed that Russian forces conducted a massive drone attack using Shahed unmanned aircraft.

The strikes caused power outages in several city districts and resulted in four fires in the Kholodnohirsky area. A 24-year-old man sustained blast injuries during the attack, according to regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov.

Russian drones also targeted the Chuhuiv district during the night, causing fires at residential properties in both the city of Chuhuiv and the village of Buhayivka. The attacks destroyed homes, garages, and vehicles, injuring one civilian.

Emergency services documented fires at multiple addresses, with the blazes consuming both residential and utility buildings across the affected areas.