Russian strikes on Kyiv highest since March 2022

In the first 18 days of September, Russian strikes on the Kyiv region reached an intensity not seen since March 2022, according to an AFP analysis of conflict monitor data. The region faced 118 separate attacks during this period, a figure eclipsing the 174 barrages recorded throughout the entire month of March 2022. This surge in strikes has intensified since July, with a marked acceleration in August and September, particularly targeting warehouses, businesses, and petrol stations.

The majority of these attacks are carried out using drones, although missile strikes have increased since July and August. Many of the barrages now involve jet-powered drones that Ukraine struggles to counter due to a shortage of appropriate munitions. Russian attacks have also expanded across the entirety of Ukraine, with the number of strikes hitting record levels since May, peaking at 5,500 in August.

These intensified attacks come as Moscow and Kyiv have escalated their long-range assaults on each other, while Russia has increasingly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of the anticipated harsh winter conditions.