Russian Attacks Continue in Ukraine, Targeting Civilian Sites

Russian attacks on Ukraine have escalated sharply over the past 24 hours, with multiple regions reporting strikes on civilian areas and significant casualties. According to Ukrainian regional authorities, at least six people were killed and 26 injured in a series of drone and missile attacks on September 12. The strikes targeted residential neighborhoods, industrial zones, and public infrastructure in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Kherson oblasts. In Sumy, a drone and missile attack on an industrial zone and residential area killed three and injured five, while in Donetsk, two people were killed in separate incidents. Kharkiv Oblast saw 18 settlements attacked, injuring 10 people, including emergency medical workers, and damaging schools, homes, and vehicles.

Civilian Toll and Infrastructure Damage

The United Nations and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have expressed alarm at the mounting civilian toll. In August 2025 alone, at least 208 civilians were killed and 827 injured, with short-range drones causing the highest number of casualties. The UN Security Council was briefed on September 12 about the intensification of Russian missile and drone attacks, including a massive barrage of 415 drones and over 40 cruise and ballistic missiles launched against 15 Ukrainian regions between September 9 and 10. These attacks resulted in further civilian deaths, including in Kyiv, where a government building housing the prime minister's office was struck for the first time since the war began. The UN reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law and called for an immediate ceasefire.

Regional Escalation and International Response

The recent wave of attacks has also had regional repercussions. On the night of September 9-10, Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace, prompting Poland to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty and initiate emergency consultations among member states. While Russia acknowledged conducting strikes against Ukrainian targets, it denied any intention to target Poland. Belarusian authorities claimed that some drones were deflected by Ukrainian countermeasures and veered off course, and that Belarus had alerted neighboring countries as drones approached their airspace. The incident led to temporary airport closures and air traffic restrictions in eastern Poland, though no casualties were reported there.

Humanitarian Impact and Ongoing Risks

Frontline regions, particularly Donetsk, continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. The BBC reports that an estimated 218,000 people, including 16,500 children, require evacuation from Donetsk due to daily drone and missile attacks. Many civilians, especially the elderly, remain in high-risk areas, facing life-or-death decisions about whether to stay or flee. Ukrainian officials and international agencies warn that the intensification of attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure raises fears of a new wave of hardship as winter approaches.

The UN and humanitarian organizations have called for all parties to act responsibly and avoid further escalation, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustainable peace in accordance with international law.