Zelensky says Russia fired more than 2,000 drones at Ukraine in one week
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Russia launched more than 2,000 attack drones against cities and other targets across Ukraine over the past week, alongside hundreds of air bombs and nearly two dozen missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
In a statement posted on social media on September 20, Zelensky said Russian forces had used more than 2,000 attack drones, 1,700 guided aerial bombs and 19 missiles of various types during the seven-day period.
“Every day and every night, we are defending ourselves against Russian attacks,” Zelensky said.
He added that many of the drones were jet-powered and capable of reaching speeds of about 600 kilometers per hour (373 mph).
According to Zelensky, Russian strikes hit a range of targets and caused damage to monasteries, critical infrastructure, businesses and residential buildings in different parts of Ukraine.
Intensifying Russian drone campaign
The latest figures come amid an intensification of Russia's long-range air campaign against Ukraine. Kyiv has reported increasingly frequent drone attacks throughout the day, alongside larger waves involving cruise and ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that Russia's expanding use of drones is putting additional pressure on the country's air-defense network, particularly amid shortages of interceptor missiles and other air-defense equipment.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that 372 civilians were killed and 2,349 injured in August, making it the second-deadliest month for civilians in 2026 after July, when 448 civilians were killed and 2,675 injured.
Kyiv approves new long-range operations
In response to the continuing Russian attacks, Zelensky said on September 19 that he had approved new long-range operations against Russian targets.
He did not provide details about the planned operations. However, Zelensky said in July that Ukraine had drawn up a new list of priority targets and had developed the capability to strike targets more than 3,000 kilometers inside Russian territory.
Ukraine has increasingly used domestically produced long-range drones to target Russian military, energy and industrial infrastructure as it seeks to disrupt Moscow's ability to sustain its war effort.
On September 20, Russia reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone and missile attack targeting several regions, including Moscow. Russian authorities reported fires and damage following the attacks.
Ukraine seeks additional air-defense support
Zelensky has continued to call on Ukraine's international partners to provide additional air-defense systems and impose further sanctions on Russia.
“It is important that our partners also seek and find ways to make Russia feel the consequences of its war,” Zelensky said, urging the United States, European countries and other G7 members to take additional measures against Moscow.
The U.S. State Department said on September 18 that it had approved a possible $2.7 billion sale of air-defense systems and related equipment and services to Ukraine.
The proposed package includes air-defense missiles, radar systems designed to counter drones, extended-range laser-guided air-defense systems, counter-drone radars and mobile launcher modification kits. The equipment was requested by Kyiv, according to the U.S. announcement.
Zelensky-Trump meeting planned
Against the backdrop of the escalating attacks, Zelensky said he was scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.
Zelensky described his recent discussions with Trump as significant and said the planned meeting could have broader implications for diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“It was an important conversation, and we managed to discuss many things,” Zelensky said. “This meeting could change a lot. There is diplomatic momentum.”
The developments come as both sides continue to conduct increasingly intensive long-range strikes, while diplomatic efforts remain focused on securing international support and exploring potential avenues toward an end to the conflict. (ILKHA)
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