On the night of September 9, 2026, Russia carried out a large-scale combined strike on Ukraine in which, according to the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, ballistic missiles, "Bandieroli"-type missiles, and more than 190 drones of various types were used. RBC-Ukraine reports this, citing an Air Force report. By 08:30, the Ukrainian air defense system, according to the same data, had neutralized 165 enemy drones, while as of the morning the attack had not been completed — combat UAVs continued to be detected in the country's airspace.

Scale and directions of the night strike

According to the Air Force report, drone launches were recorded from several areas at once: from the Oryol and Kursk regions of Russia, from the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, as well as from Gvardeysk in occupied Crimea. This combination of directions indicates an attempt to simultaneously pressure air defense from multiple axes. According to RBC-Ukraine data, the strike included ballistic missiles and "Bandieroli" missiles alongside a massive wave of drones, which is characteristic of a combined saturation-strike tactic.

Air defense performance: 165 drones shot down by 08:30

By 08:30, Ukraine's air defense forces, according to Air Force data, had neutralized 165 enemy drones out of more than 190 launched. This means that a significant portion of the drone wave was intercepted; however, the attack continued into the morning: enemy UAVs continued to be detected in Ukrainian airspace, meaning that the final figures on targets shot down and on projectiles that broke through were not yet definitive at the time of publication.

Consequences in Kyiv and on the border with Moldova

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Russia struck six districts of the Kyiv region. On the morning of September 9, a "hit" on a 24-story residential building was recorded in Kyiv; details on casualties and the nature of the damage were being clarified at the time the material was prepared. Separately, it was reported that the Russian army attacked a checkpoint on the border with Moldova, resulting, according to available data, in fatalities — the exact number of victims was not officially confirmed.

Contradictory data

There are discrepancies between sources regarding the composition of the weapons used and the dynamics of the figures. The report cited by RBC-Ukraine names ballistic missiles and "Bandieroli" among the strike means, whereas other outlets (in particular, ZN.ua, citing its own summaries) mention cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as "Zircon" missiles, in describing the strikes on Ukraine. In addition, the number of neutralized targets is given as an interim figure: 165 drones by 08:30 with the attack still ongoing, so the final "launched/shot down" balance may change. The differing versions on missile types and final figures require waiting for the official closure of the Air Force summary.

Context: air defense overload and Western supplies

Expert assessments cited by Ukrainian media (including via The Wall Street Journal) indicate that Russia is mass-launching jet-powered drones specifically to overload and exhaust Ukraine's air defense systems. Against this backdrop, Western partners continue to strengthen air defense: reportedly, Germany and the United Kingdom are sending Ukraine interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. The combination of these factors explains both the intensity of the night strikes and Kyiv's focus on expanding interception capabilities.