On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on social media that since 8:00 p.m. the previous day, Russian forces had launched 619 munitions at targets across many regions of the country, most of which were shot down.
Photos: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
The Russians launched:
- 579 Geran/Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles and drone decoys of various types (including Gerbera) from the directions of Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Oryol, Shatalovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia;
- 8 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Yeysk in Russia and occupied Crimea;
- 32 Kh-101 cruise missiles from strategic bombers over the airspace of the Saratov region.
The attack was repelled by the Air Force, air defense missile forces, electronic warfare (EW) and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile air defense groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“During the attack, the enemy employed its traditional tactic, a simultaneous strike on designated targets with a large number of missiles and various types of unmanned aerial vehicles. During the raid, tactical aviation, in particular F-16 multirole fighter jets, effectively engaged enemy cruise missiles. Western weaponry once again proved its effectiveness on the battlefield. We thank our partners for their assistance and count on further strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense, both through ground-based systems and air components, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.”
According to preliminary data, by 9:00 a.m., 583 aerial targets were shot down or forced to crash, including 552 drones, 2 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 29 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Hits from ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and 23 UAVs were recorded in 10 locations, while debris from downed targets fell in 10 locations.
⚡ ЗБИТО/ПОДАВЛЕНО 583 ЦІЛІ ПРОТИВНИКАhttps://t.co/9Dgj7eWkYa pic.twitter.com/U9III8NSAk
— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) September 20, 2025
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
“All night long, Ukraine was under a massive Russian attack. The enemy launched 40 missiles — both cruise and ballistic — and about 580 drones of various types. I thank all our soldiers who defended the skies throughout the night, and the F-16 pilots who once again proved their skill today and effectively countered the threat of cruise missiles over Ukraine.
The attacks targeted Dnipro and its surroundings, as well as the Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions, along with towns in the Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. The enemy aimed at our infrastructure, residential neighborhoods, and civilian enterprises. In Dnipro, a missile with cluster munitions struck directly at a residential building.
So far, we know of dozens of people injured in the shelling, and unfortunately, 3 people have been killed. My condolences go out to their families and loved ones.
Each such attack is not a military necessity but a deliberate Russian strategy to terrorize the civilian population and destroy our infrastructure. That is why a decisive international response is needed. Ukraine has proven that it can defend itself and Europe, but to create a reliable shield, we must act together: strengthen air defense, increase arms supplies, and expand sanctions against the Russian war machine and the sectors that finance it. Every sanction against Russia saves lives. I thank everyone who helps and supports us.”
Всю ніч Україна перебувала під масованою атакою Росії. Ворог застосував 40 ракет, крилатих і балістичних, та близько 580 дронів різних типів. Дякую всім нашим воїнам, які всю ніч захищали небо, нашим пілотам F-16, які сьогодні вкотре довели свою майстерність та результативно… pic.twitter.com/IBLmcdGpsT
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 20, 2025
State Emergency Service of Ukraine:
“As a result of a Russian drone attack in the village of Borznianska, a fire broke out in a private house. Unfortunately, a 62-year-old local resident was killed.”
Ворог знову атакував Ніжинщину.
У Борзнянській громаді внаслідок російського удару дрона загорілося приватне домогосподарство.
📍На жаль, загинула 62-річна місцева жителька.
Рятувальники ліквідували пожежу pic.twitter.com/FumD7Zd7pQ
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) September 20, 2025
“Dnipropetrovsk region: 1 dead, 13 injured. Rescue services saved 25 people. A residential building in Dnipro and an enterprise in Pavlohrad were on fire. There was destruction and fires, and response efforts are ongoing.”
❗росіяни атакували #Дніпропетровщину.
Попередньо: 1 загиблий, 13 поранених. 🙏
25 людей врятували надзвичайники.У Дніпрі горів житловий будинок, у Павлограді — підприємство. Є руйнування й пожежі, роботи тривають. pic.twitter.com/qdYGGtaOts
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) September 20, 2025
“Odesa region: As a result of the attack, a fire broke out in a farm warehouse, and a storage building with agricultural equipment was destroyed. Firefighters and volunteers quickly extinguished the blaze.”
❗Сьогодні вночі росія атакувала #Одеську область
Внаслідок атаки виникла пожежа в складському приміщенні фермерського господарства та руйнування складської будівлі з сільськогосподарською технікою.
Вогнеборці та добровольці оперативно ліквідували пожежу. pic.twitter.com/Ybj0bniu8n
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) September 20, 2025
“Kyiv region: In the village of Sofiivska Borshchahivka, in the Bucha district, a fire involving 5 cars in a parking lot next to a high-rise building was extinguished. In the Obukhiv district, a fire broke out that partially destroyed a private residential building.”
❗Київщина: ліквідовано наслідки російських обстрілів
📍 В с. Софіївська Борщагівка Бучанського району ліквідовано загоряння 5 легкових автомобілів на парковці поруч з багатоповерхівкою.
📍В Обухівському районі виникла пожежа і часткова руйнація приватного житлового будинку. pic.twitter.com/CmALQlEjHd
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) September 20, 2025
“Mykolaiv region: Industrial infrastructure and agricultural facilities were hit, causing fires. Cleanup operations are underway. No one was injured.”
Сьогодні #Миколаївщина опинилась під цинічним російським масованим обстрілом ракет та БпЛА. Вибухи лунали як в місті, так і поза його межами.
Під атакою була промислова інфраструктура та фермерське господарство, виникли пожежі. Триває ліквідація. Постраждалих немає. pic.twitter.com/tEjGwFqt2V
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) September 20, 2025
At 5:32 a.m., the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ) issued a statement:
“Attention. Due to the activity of the Russian Federation’s long-range aviation carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft have begun operating in our airspace.
In accordance with established procedures, the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal. Air defense alert fighter pairs have been scrambled, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness.
These measures are intended to ensure security in areas bordering the threatened regions.
The Armed Forces Operational Command is monitoring the current situation, and the forces and resources under its command remain fully prepared for immediate response.”
❗️ Uwaga. W związku z aktywnością lotnictwa dalekiego zasięgu Federacji Rosyjskiej, wykonującego uderzenia na terytorium Ukrainę, rozpoczęło się operowanie polskiego i sojuszniczego lotnictwa w naszej przestrzeni powietrznej.
Zgodnie z obowiązującymi procedurami Dowódca… pic.twitter.com/VdT9BopGgD
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) September 20, 2025
Another statement was issued at 7:01 a.m.:
“The operation of Polish and allied aircraft in our airspace has ended due to the cessation of long-range aviation strikes by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
The activated ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to standard operational activity.
Our actions were of a preventive nature and were aimed at securing the airspace in areas adjacent to the threatened region.
The Polish Armed Forces are continuously monitoring the situation in the territory of Ukraine and remain in constant readiness to ensure the security of Polish airspace.”
Operowanie polskiego i sojuszniczego lotnictwa w naszej przestrzeni powietrznej zostało zakończone w związku z zaprzestaniem uderzeń lotnictwa dalekiego zasięgu Federacji Rosyjskiej na Ukrainę.
Uruchomione naziemne systemy obrony powietrznej i rozpoznania radiolokacyjnego… pic.twitter.com/GZNfaoBoJV
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) September 20, 2025