On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since 6:00 p.m. the previous day, Russia had carried out another combined air and missile strike against various targets, launching 425 weapons, primarily aimed at sites in the southwestern and eastern parts of the country.
Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
The Russians launched:
- 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Russia’s Rostov region;
- 20 Kh-101 cruise missiles launched by strategic bombers over the Caspian Sea;
- 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles from Russia’s Kursk region;
- 1 Kh-59 Ovod/Kh-69 air-launched guided missile from the airspace of the occupied Donetsk region;
- 396 unmanned aerial vehicles, including approximately 250 Geran/Shahed and Italmas types, as well as various drone decoys (including Gerbera), launched from the directions of Kursk, Bryansk, Oryol, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia and from occupied Crimea.
The attack was repelled by aviation units, air defense missile forces, electronic warfare (EW) units, unmanned systems units, and mobile air defense groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to preliminary data, as of 9:30 a.m. local time, air defense systems had shot down or suppressed 392 aerial targets, including 20 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles, 1 Kh-59 Ovod/Kh-69 missile, and 367 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Hits by 4 ballistic missiles and 18 UAVs were recorded in 13 locations, and debris from downed drones fell in 8 locations. At the time of publication, several UAVs were still present in the airspace.
⚡️ ЗБИТО/ПОДАВЛЕНО 25 РАКЕТ ТА 367 ВОРОЖИХ БПЛАhttps://t.co/vfkGIAHJcU pic.twitter.com/vSJsggLbWI
— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) February 17, 2026
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
“Rescue and repair operations are ongoing in many of our regions following the massive Russian attack. It was a combined strike, deliberately calculated to inflict the greatest possible damage on our energy sector. Nearly 400 drones and 29 missiles of various types were used, including ballistic ones. A significant number were shot down, but unfortunately there were also impacts.
In Odesa, tens of thousands of people have been left without heating and water after the drone strike. All necessary services are working to provide assistance. In total, 12 regions were attacked, and unfortunately nine people, including children, were injured. More than ten residential buildings and railway infrastructure facilities were damaged.
Our partners must respond to all these attacks on life. Russia must be held accountable for its aggression. Our diplomacy will be more effective when backed by justice and strength. This means sustained pressure on the Russian Federation – sanctions pressure as well as continuous, rapid support for the Ukrainian army and our air defense. For peace to be real and just, action must be taken against the sole source of this aggression – it is Moscow that continues the killings, the mass strikes, and the assaults.”
Тривають рятувальні та ремонтні роботи в багатьох наших регіонах після масованої російської атаки. Комбінований був удар, спеціально прорахований, щоб якомога більше пошкодити нашу енергетику. Використали майже 400 дронів і 29 ракет різних типів, у тому числі балістику. Значну… pic.twitter.com/kw2I5MIGB5
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 17, 2026
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine:
“A woman was killed in a Russian attack on the village of Kyrykiivka in the Sumy region: rescuers recovered her body from under the rubble of a destroyed house. Six other people were injured, including two children. The strike caused a large fire in the residential area. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.”
Через атаку рф по Кириківській громаді на Сумщині загинула жінка: рятувальники деблокували її тіло з-під завалів зруйнованого будинку. Ще 6 людей постраждали, з них 2 дитини.
Внаслідок удару виникла масштабна пожежа в житловому секторі. Вогнеборці ліквідували горіння. pic.twitter.com/fQHTOLRssK— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) February 17, 2026
At 4:21 a.m., the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command published the following statement:
“Attention. Due to the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, military aircraft have begun operating in Polish airspace.
In accordance with applicable procedures, the Armed Forces Operational Command has activated the necessary forces and assets at its disposal.
Ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of readiness. These measures are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to threatened regions.
The Armed Forces Operational Command is monitoring the current situation, and subordinate forces and assets remain ready for immediate response.”
❗️ Uwaga. W związku z aktywnością lotnictwa dalekiego zasięgu Federacji Rosyjskiej, wykonującego uderzenia na terytorium Ukrainy, rozpoczęło się operowanie lotnictwa wojskowego w polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej.
Zgodnie z obowiązującymi procedurami Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ… pic.twitter.com/33QNVkehCP
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) February 17, 2026
At 8:15 a.m., another statement was released:
“The operation of military aircraft in Polish airspace, related to the Russian Federation’s strikes on Ukraine, has been concluded. The activated ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to standard operational activity.
We thank NATO for its support, as well as NATO Allied Air Command and the German Air Force, whose aircraft helped ensure security in Polish airspace today. We also extend our thanks to the Netherlands Armed Forces for their support with air defense systems.
At the same time, during the night military radar systems detected further entries into Polish airspace of objects with balloon-like characteristics coming from the direction of Belarus. The objects were continuously identified and remained under constant surveillance by military reconnaissance systems. The situation was under control and did not pose a threat to air traffic safety or to citizens of the Republic of Poland. The observed incidents did not differ from events recorded recently in the area of the Polish-Belarusian border. The Armed Forces Operational Command, acting in accordance with applicable procedures, is cooperating with services responsible for state security, providing necessary information on an ongoing basis to enable a rapid response, including the interception of objects and the detention of individuals suspected of involvement in these incidents.
The Polish Armed Forces, in line with the objectives of Operation #WschodniaZorza (Eastern Dawn), continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and remain in constant readiness to ensure the security of Polish airspace.”
Operowanie wojskowego lotnictwa w polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej, związane z uderzeniami Federacji Rosyjskiej na Ukrainę, zostało zakończone. Uruchomione naziemne systemy obrony powietrznej oraz rozpoznania radiolokacyjnego powróciły do standardowej działalności operacyjnej.… pic.twitter.com/IITwaMTa3C
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) February 17, 2026
Map of attacks (source):
Map: monitorwar via Telegram
As shown on the attached map, the reason NATO scrambled its forces and assets was the appearance of Russian strike assets in the southwestern part of Ukraine.