Kyiv hit by daytime drones and overnight missiles as Zelensky seeks more air defense

Russian drones struck Kyiv in daylight on September 23, followed by ballistic missiles and drones early the next morning. The attacks killed civilians, damaged infrastructure and underscored the air-defense shortage President Volodymyr Zelensky raised during his visit to the UN in New York.5818

What happened in Kyiv?

The September 23 daytime drone attack killed two people and wounded 23, according to reports at the time. Fires and building damage were reported, along with strikes affecting railway infrastructure, warehouses and fuel stations. Daytime raids also interrupt work and travel in a city where air-raid alerts have increasingly extended beyond the night.561

Early on September 24, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones. Two people were reported killed; one was in the parking lot of a maternity hospital that was damaged. Nearby homes were also damaged. The deaths reported on Wednesday and Thursday belong to separate attacks, not a single overnight toll.188

What did Zelensky say about missile defenses?

Speaking to journalists in New York, Zelensky said Ukraine had intercepted 60% of the ballistic missiles in the latest overnight attack. That figure describes one assault, not Ukraine’s overall interception rate. He said Ukraine still needed to shoot down more incoming missiles.8

The shortage of interceptors remained central to his appeal for US support. Zelensky said he had not received a concrete answer on additional Patriot interceptors. He had previously said allied deliveries of air-defense missiles fell by two-thirds in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025—a separate measure of supply, not the interception rate for this attack.15

Why did the strikes raise winter fears?

At the UN, Zelensky sought stronger pressure on Russia’s ability to fund the war and warned that Ukraine would retaliate if attacks on its energy system continued into winter. He said Ukraine was prepared for a reciprocal pause in strikes on energy facilities; Russia rejected a pause in the wider fighting.58

The danger was not confined to Kyiv: attacks elsewhere in Ukraine added to the civilian toll. A shortage of interceptors leaves infrastructure vulnerable as colder weather approaches. Damage to power and heating could force people from their homes, but the available reporting does not establish how many might be displaced.7