26 August 2024 Russian strikes on Ukraine

26 August 2024 Russian strikes on Ukraine
Part of Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure (2022–present)
Location	Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Kropyvnytskyi, Kryvyi Rih, Stryi, and Lviv in Ukraine
Date	26–27 August 2024
Target	Energy and water infrastructure, civilian areas
Attack type	Airstrikes, Drone strikes
Deaths	11+
Injured	52+
Perpetrators	Russian Air Force

On the morning of 26 August 2024, Russia carried out its largest series of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, targeting multiple large and important cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Kremenchuk, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, Kropyvnytskyi, Khmelnytskyi, Stryi, and Kryvyi Rih. The attacks resumed on the night of 26 August and into the morning of 27 August.

Course of events

Nationwide air raid sirens began to sound just prior to 6 a.m. local time. Reports from the Ukrainian Air Force stated that multiple Russian MiG-31 aircraft capable of deploying Kinzhal ballistic missiles in addition to at least eleven Tu-95 bombers, multiple kamikaze drones, and multiple missiles were detected in and around Ukrainian airspace targeting numerous Ukrainian cities across the nation.

Hypersonic missile and drone attacks resumed in the morning hours of 27 August, causing ballistic weapon alerts to be raised nationwide.

Kyiv

Just before 8:30 a.m. local time, journalists in Kyiv began to hear explosions, which were shortly followed by a second round. A third round began shortly after 9:00 a.m. The attacks occurred during rush hour in central Kyiv. Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko reported that "several districts" suffered from power outages following the first strikes, which was followed by water supply issues on the city's right bank.

Kyiv Regional Military Administration head Ruslan Kravchenko stated several infrastructure establishments were struck and damaged from the strikes, and that Kyiv authorities were creating station locations called "points of invincibility" to grant residents without power internet access and phone charging. Videos and images spread on social media platforms showed heavily crowded subway stations from Ukrainian residents taking shelter from ongoing Russian attacks.

On 27 August, additional missile and drone attacks targeted Kyiv, causing multiple regional air defense systems to continuously deploy. Eyewitnesses stated that overnight, three rounds of explosives were heard.

Kyiv Oblast

A Russian attack struck unspecified infrastructure facilities and also struck residential houses in Kyiv Oblast, causing one injury. The Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant was also struck, damaging a dam and energy facility. Presidential advisor Timofiy Mylovanov reported that while the dam was able to hold immediately following the attack, that it would flood a large section of Kyiv if it collapsed.

One of the injured was struck by a downed drone falling on the road the victim was on, which destroyed a car.

Kharkiv Oblast

The Mayor of Kharkiv Ihor Terekhov reported that explosions were heard throughout the city, while one person was killed in Izium Raion. The head of Kharkiv's regional military stated that emergency services traveled to an "undisclosed number of sites" that were struck by the attacks.

On 27 August, one person was killed and six others were injured in a missile strike on a bus stop in Bohodukhiv.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Serhiy Lysak reported that a 69-year-old man was killed in Russian attacks in the region. One attack caused multiple fires to break out, and one person required rescue from underneath the rubble of a targeted structure. Power outages caused by attacks were reported in Dnipro. On the evening of 26 August, a Russian missile struck a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, killing four people and injuring five others.

Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

Three people were injured in the region.

Lviv Oblast

Governor of Lviv Oblast Maksym Kozytskyi reported that widespread power outages were ongoing as a result of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

Mykolaiv Oblast

Governor of Mykolaiv Oblast Vitalii Kim reported that three residents were injured as a result of Russian attacks.

Odesa Oblast

Governor of Odesa Oblast Oleh Kiper reported that four residents, including a ten-year old child, were injured as a result of Russian attacks.

Poltava Oblast

A Russian strike hit an energy infrastructure facility, causing at least five injuries. Three of them later died in hospital. One person was injured by drone debris in Lubny Raion.

Sumy Oblast

Twelve communities in Sumy Oblast were targeted by Russian weapons, including unmanned drones, artillery fire, and guided bombs. 83 separate attacks took place in the region consisting of 212 separate explosions resulting in at least sixteen injuries. KAB-guided bombs struck targets in Krasnopillia community causing five injuries, while artillery fire injured two more. Nine people were injured in attacks on Bilopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Vorozhba.

Volyn Oblast

In Lutsk, at least one person was killed and an apartment building suffered damage from Russian attacks according to city mayor Ihor Polishchuk.

Zakarpattia Oblast

A Russian cruise missile coming from the direction of Lviv Oblast was shot down by a Ukrainian air defence unit.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Ivan Fedorov reported that a man was killed in the region after Russian forces struck a private residence. He followed the report by saying that, "The world must stop the terrorist country". An infrastructure facility was struck, causing a fire. Several stores, homes, and vehicles were damaged by Russian strikes.

Zhytomyr Oblast

One person was killed in the region.

Nationwide

President of Ukraine Volodomyr Zelenskyy reported that over 100 drones and over 100 missiles were used in the attacks. The Ukrainian State Emergency reported that seven people were killed in the attacks and 47 more were injured, including four children, of which the youngest injury was less than a year old.

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba reported that the attacks were mostly centered around "targeting critical civilian infrastructure and our energy system."

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported that Russian attacks caused damage to fifteen regions in Ukraine that impacted energy infrastructure requiring Ukrenergo to cut power in regions to stabilize the grid, and said that there were multiple wounded and dead.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated that it detected 127 missiles and 109 drones launched by Russia, and that of these, air defense systems were able to intercept 102 missiles and 99 drones.

The largest national private energy company DTEK stated that it was initiating emergency power shutdowns throughout Ukraine just after 9 a.m.

During the attacks, Ukraine used its F-16s for the first time to intercept cruise missiles. However, the Ukrainian Air Force subsequently announced the loss of an F-16 and its pilot during the attacks.

Responses

Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodomyr Zelenskyy called the attack "dastardly" and called President of Russia Vladimir Putin a "sick creature". He reiterated his calls on Western nations to allow Ukraine to use their weapons to strike long-range targets deep within Russia, based on his statement that Putin "can only do what the world allows him to do. Weakness, inadequacy of decisions in response feeds terror."

Zelenskyy held an emergency meeting with Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Energy German Galushchenko, head of Ukrainian electric grid operator Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, and Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk to discuss multiple issues caused by the attacks. Of these included analyzing and determining the capabilities of each region's air defense systems, electronic warfare systems, and mobile fire groups. Following the meeting, Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine was preparing to retaliate against Russia.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal repeated prior calls for the United States and European nations to allow Ukraine to use their weapons to strike long-range targets in Russia, He elaborated that: "In order to stop the barbaric shelling of Ukrainian cities, it is necessary to destroy the place from which the Russian missiles are launched.”

Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak stated in a public Telegram post that "The desire to destroy our energy sector will cost the Russians dearly for their infrastructure."

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stated that Russia had continued its "cowardly war against civilians" and continued its war crimes against Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials announced that they would meet in Washington D.C. to show the United States administration a list of potential Russian "high-value targets" that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could strike with long-range weaponry. Politico analysts Erin Banco and Paul McLeary referred to the list as a "last-ditch effort" to convince the United States to lift its restrictions on use of U.S. weapons for long-range attacks deep inside Russia, and to discourage Russia from potentially launching larger and more invasive attacks. Kyiv intended for the list to change Joe Biden's mind following statements by his administration that allowing Ukraine to strike faraway targets would not "make a strategic difference in the war as Russia has moved its most important targets, including aircraft, back from the border and out of reach".

Russia

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that it had used "high precision weapons" in order to severely damage critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure due to it supporting Ukraine's military–industrial complex. The ministry stated that the attacks successfully struck “all designated targets”, which included weapon storages, power substations, and gas compressor stations.

International

Poland: Polish military authorities reported that an unidentified flying object appearing to be a Russian drone likely flew into Polish airspace during Russian attacks near Ukraine's western border. The Polish Armed Forces alerted Polish residents that multiple Polish and other allied aircraft took off and were flying in southeastern Poland. Its Operational Command made a public statement on Twitter/X stating that "All necessary procedures to ensure the safety of Polish airspace have been launched" due to "intense activity of long-range aviation from [Russia], related to strikes being carried out on targets located, among others, in the western part of Ukraine."

United States: President Joe Biden released a press statement that strongly condemned the "outrageous" attacks as part of Russian attempts to "plunge the Ukrainian people into darkness", and reiterated that Russia would never defeat Ukraine or its population. He stated that the United States would continue to stand with Ukraine until victory, and that the United States would prioritize air defense systems to Ukraine first while also sending energy resources.

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby stated that there would be no changes to current restrictions placed on Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons despite the attacks.

International organizations

European Union: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell implored EU member states to lift their restrictions on allowing Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russian targets. He called the measure necessary as a response to escalated aggression by Russia on civilian infrastructure, and stated that allowing long-range targeting would reduce Ukrainian casualties and destruction while following international law. He also advocated for sending Ukraine more air defense systems, and stated that he would meet with Ukrainian and EU foreign ministers to deliberate on Russia's attacks and on strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

NATO: NATO issued a severe condemnation of Russia's attacks on civilian infrastructure and Ukrainian civilians, as well as the reported entry of a Russian drone into Polish airspace, noting that weapon incursions into NATO territory had occurred multiple times since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The organization stated that while no information had yet appeared indicating that the incursion was intentional, NATO still called such actions "irresponsible and potentially dangerous.”

See also

• April 2023 Sloviansk airstrike
• 29 December 2023 Russian strikes on Ukraine
• 2 January 2024 Russian strikes on Ukraine
• 22 March 2024 Russian strikes on Ukraine
• Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine