The conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, with both sides exchanging drone attacks and targeting critical infrastructure. The recent wave of strikes has resulted in casualties and significant damage, highlighting the ongoing tension in the region.
On September 16, 2026, a Russian drone attack on a passenger bus in Ukraine’s southeast resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to at least seven others. This incident underscores the human cost of the conflict, as civilian areas continue to be affected by the violence.
Overnight Drone Attacks Across Ukraine
On the night of September 13, 2026, Russia launched over 450 drones across Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, 453 drones of various types were deployed, with 409 of them being neutralized. However, 13 locations were struck, causing damage and disruption.
The city of Stryi, in the Lviv region near the Polish border, was among the hardest hit. A multi-storey residential building, an outbuilding near a school, and buildings near a railway station were damaged by Russian drones. In Izyum, a 26-year-old woman died due to the detonation of an explosive device, while Kharkiv and 15 settlements in the Kharkiv region were also subjected to attacks, resulting in three injuries, including a 73-year-old woman.
In the Volyn region of western Ukraine, at least five people were injured during a mass drone attack that lasted more than four hours. Governor Roman Romaniuk reported that more than 10 drones flew in the region’s airspace. A train in Lutsk, which had been evacuated, was struck by debris, sparking a fire but fortunately resulting in no injuries.
Ukraine’s Retaliatory Strikes on Russian Oil Facilities
In response to the Russian attacks, Ukraine targeted oil facilities in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. A Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at an industrial facility in Nizhnekamsk, resulting in two deaths and 12 injuries. The facility is part of a major oil refining and petrochemical hub.
Ukrainian Defence Intelligence also reported striking the Slavyansk-ECO oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Russia’s southeastern region of Krasnodar Krai. The attack hit a key oil-processing unit and the refinery’s tank farm, further escalating the conflict.
Both Russia and Ukraine have been targeting each other’s energy-related facilities ahead of the winter. While Russia focuses on Ukraine’s electricity and energy infrastructure, Ukraine has primarily targeted Russia’s oil and gas facilities.
Diplomatic Tensions and the G20 Summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Miami. ‘We have to come. We have to meet, to speak and make decisions,’ Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing that results matter more than words.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the possibility, stating that Putin would only meet with Zelenskyy in Moscow. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov also clarified that Russia would not cease its ‘special military operations’ in Ukraine during any potential peace talks.
