Russian forces launched a series of missile and drone strikes across multiple Ukrainian cities overnight on September 16-17, causing injuries to more than two dozen people, Ukrainian officials reported. The assaults came just hours after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive sanctions bill targeting Russia’s energy and defense sectors, as well as its fleet of tankers that have evaded previous sanctions.
The legislation, spearheaded by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, seeks to intensify economic pressure on Moscow over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now entering its fifth year. The bill includes provisions authorizing President Donald Trump to impose tariffs up to 100 percent on imports from China, India, and other nations to reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas. It also extends sanctions on Iran. The measure has been forwarded to President Trump for approval.
China expressed opposition to the legislation, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemning what it called “long-arm jurisdiction” lacking international legal basis and not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the passage of the sanctions as a critical reinforcement alongside existing measures. He described the bill as an “extremely powerful tool” to pressure Russia into ending the conflict. Zelensky noted the timing of the U.S. vote coincided with another wave of Russian ballistic and cruise missile attacks, underscoring the escalating conflict.
Overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian assaults included Oniks anti-ship cruise missiles, various ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles, and nearly 160 drones. The Ukrainian side did not specify how many targets were intercepted. The growing frequency and sophistication of Russian air strikes have strained Ukraine’s defenses, particularly as its supply of U.S.-designed interceptors capable of neutralizing ballistic missiles has dwindled.
Damage from the strikes was recorded across eight Ukrainian regions. In the capital Kyiv, air raid sirens and anti-aircraft fire echoed through the night and into the morning as attacks with jet-powered drones persisted. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that 18 people were wounded in the city, including two children. Most injuries occurred in a damaged 16-story apartment building. Additional damage affected four city districts, including warehouse facilities and a petrol station—targets that have become frequent in recent attacks. The strike also temporarily disrupted water supply on Kyiv’s left bank.
In the southern port city of Odesa, six individuals, including two children, were injured when missiles struck residential buildings, including a 19-story apartment complex. Nearby in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, missile strikes hit industrial sites, setting one ablaze, with three people reported wounded.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky emphasized the necessity of robust sanctions to compel Russia back to the negotiating table after recent U.S.-facilitated peace talks fell apart earlier in 2026. He called for strong measures to bolster diplomatic efforts involving the United States, European partners, and other allies.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its strikes targeted Ukrainian military vessels but provided limited specifics on other targets. The continued escalation of missile and drone attacks highlights the persistent volatility and intensity of the conflict in Ukraine.