Russia launches massive overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine; Zelensky to meet Trump for energy truce talks.
Russian forces conducted widespread missile and drone strikes across Ukraine overnight, as President Zelensky arrived in the US for talks with President Trump on a potential energy ceasefire.
The day on the war
Russian forces launched a large-scale combined missile and drone attack against Ukraine on the night of September 21-22, utilizing 212 drones and various missile types. Ukraine's Air Force reported downing 186 aerial assets, but hits were recorded in 22 locations.
In Dnipro, two people were killed and six injured by a ballistic missile strike. Poltava Oblast saw an industrial facility and a critical infrastructure site hit in the Kremenchuk district.
Kyiv's Dniprovskyi district also sustained damage to a residential building from a drone strike, injuring four people, three of whom were hospitalized. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump today, September 22, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Zelensky is expected to advocate for an energy ceasefire with Russia amidst concerns over intensified aerial attacks on infrastructure ahead of winter. Discussions will also cover Ukraine's efforts to acquire US-made Patriot air defense missiles.
Along the front
General Frontline
Development: Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces made confirmed territorial advances on September 21.
Source: ISW
Slovyansk direction
Development: Russian forces are intensifying drone and artillery strikes, preparing for future offensive operations.
Source: ISW
Strikes & the grid
Ukraine (multiple oblasts including Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Kyiv)
What: Russian forces attacked with 212 drones (including jet-powered Shaheds) and various missiles (Oniks, Iskander-M/S-400/KN-23, Kalibr, Banderol/Dan-T).
Toll: Ukrainian air defense downed 186 aerial assets; hits recorded at 22 locations. Two people killed and six injured in Dnipro. Industrial facility and critical infrastructure hit in Poltava Oblast. Residential building damaged, four injured in Kyiv.
Samara Oblast, Russia
What: Ukrainian forces conducted an overnight drone attack on the Kuibyshev oil refinery.
Toll: Details on casualties or damage are not immediately available.
Voronezh Oblast, Russia
What: Russian air defense forces shot down 28 drones overnight.
Toll: No casualties reported.
Diplomacy & talks
Ukraine-US bilateral / UN General Assembly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on September 22 in New York, where Zelensky will push for an energy truce with Russia.
Russia-Ukraine-US negotiations. The Kremlin stated on September 21 that negotiations aimed at ending the war have made no progress, but expressed hope for the resumption of trilateral talks.
Aid & sanctions
United States (Senators)
Measure: New bill introduced (SABER Act)
Detail: A bipartisan group of US Senators introduced legislation to allow Ukraine to use frozen Russian sovereign assets (estimated between $5 billion and $7 billion) to purchase weapons, expanding the scope of the existing REPO Act.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- Ukrainian President Zelensky's meeting with US President Trump at the UN General Assembly on September 22.
- The ongoing UN General Assembly sessions (September 21-28), where the conflict in Ukraine is expected to be a major focus.
- EU ambassadors reconvening on September 22 to finalize an agreement on new Russia sanctions.
- Discussions regarding Ukraine's efforts to source US-made Patriot air defense missiles for the upcoming winter.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.