Russia Strikes Ukraine; Both Sides Report Heavy Losses

Russian forces launched strikes across multiple Ukrainian regions on 23–24 September, damaging civilian infrastructure and homes and causing casualties. An Iskander ballistic missile struck a Ukrainian Ground Forces training shelter, killing and injuring personnel who received emergency care. Overnight drone attacks damaged Kharkiv’s energy infrastructure and cut power for some consumers, though Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy said the grid remained balanced, rolling blackouts were not planned and crews were repairing damage. Moscow and Russia’s Defence Ministry reported intercepting dozens of Ukrainian drones over the capital and multiple regions — with Mayor Sobyanin citing 32 over Moscow and the Defence Ministry citing 69 across regions — leaving debris-damaged cars and prompting temporary airport restrictions. Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces suffered roughly 1,070 killed and wounded and lost more than 570 weapons and pieces of equipment, including three helicopters, in a single day, and separate reporting described Russian use of tunnels and pipes in assaults that reportedly caused heavy attacker casualties; the strikes also sparked major fires and broader political and international effects, including Germany accelerating Bundeswehr recruitment and modernization and Ukrainian wartime schooling issues being raised at the UN General Assembly amid rising tensions inside President Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party.