A Russian drone strike on a market near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv has killed two people and injured several others, according to Ukrainian officials, as a wider wave of Russian drone and missile attacks continued across Ukraine.
The market was located in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, a settlement on the western outskirts of Kyiv. Ukrainian prosecutors said an attack drone struck the market area on September 27. The strike caused a fire and damaged vehicles and other property. Initial reports put the number of injured at around 10, while later local officials confirmed that two people had died.
The attack was part of a broader series of strikes reported across the Kyiv region and other parts of Ukraine. Emergency services and law enforcement personnel were deployed at the affected locations as authorities assessed the damage and assisted those affected.
The latest strike comes during a period of intensified Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces had launched more than 2,200 attack drones, around 1,650 aerial bombs and 38 missiles of different types against Ukraine during the week. He said a significant number of the missiles were ballistic weapons.
Zelenskyy also reported that civilian and public infrastructure had been damaged in several parts of Ukraine. According to his account, Russian attacks affected residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, warehouses, vehicle repair facilities and communications infrastructure.
In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the capital was also targeted by drones. Several districts experienced damage, while fires were reported at different locations. Ukrainian officials said the attacks affected residential and non-residential structures.
The Kyiv region attack at the market was particularly significant because the location was a civilian commercial area. Ukrainian prosecutors said the drone struck the market area, while images released after the attack showed burning vehicles and debris at the scene. Officials continued assessing the full extent of the damage.
The attacks were not limited to Kyiv and its surrounding region. Ukrainian officials also reported casualties in other cities. Reuters reported that two people were killed in Sumy after glide bombs struck near a family support centre, while a drone attack in Kharkiv killed a driver. The same report said a drone strike on a high-rise building in Kyiv injured one person.
The continuing attacks have increased pressure on Ukraine's air defence systems. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly appealed for additional air defence equipment, particularly systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and large numbers of attack drones.
Zelenskyy has used recent statements to highlight the scale of the aerial campaign. He said the number of drones, missiles and aerial bombs launched against Ukraine demonstrated the continuing intensity of the conflict. His comments also included calls for international partners to strengthen Ukraine's ability to protect its cities and population.
The latest attacks have also affected critical infrastructure. According to Ukrainian officials, communications facilities and data centres in Kyiv have been targeted during the recent campaign. Zelenskyy said a Kyiv data centre was struck twice on September 27 and that two children and an adult were injured.
The attacks have occurred despite ongoing international diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. European and other international officials have continued to discuss possible paths toward a reduction in hostilities, but Russian and Ukrainian positions remain divided on several key issues.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians, while Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of attacking civilian areas and infrastructure. The latest market strike and other incidents are being investigated by Ukrainian authorities.
Another recent attack in Kyiv involved a ballistic missile strike that damaged a maternity hospital. The Ukrainian presidential office said the September 23 to 24 attack damaged windows and doors on several floors of the hospital, although patients and medical staff sheltering there were not injured.
The continued use of drones and missiles has made air raid alerts a regular part of daily life for many Ukrainian residents. Authorities in Kyiv and other cities have urged residents to follow air defence warnings and move to shelters when alerts are issued.
The latest market attack also highlights the difficulty of protecting densely populated urban and suburban areas from aerial attacks. Commercial locations, residential buildings and infrastructure are spread across large areas, making comprehensive protection challenging.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia has increasingly used large numbers of drones in sustained attacks. Zelenskyy said more than 2,200 attack drones had been launched against Ukraine during the week, alongside thousands of aerial bombs and dozens of missiles.
The figures cited by Ukrainian officials have not been independently verified in full, and casualty numbers can change as emergency crews inspect damaged areas. Reports from different authorities have also given varying figures during the early stages of individual attacks.
For residents in Kyiv and surrounding areas, the latest attacks have once again brought the threat of aerial strikes into focus. The market attack near the capital resulted in two confirmed deaths, while several other people were injured across the wider area.
The Ukrainian government continues to seek stronger air defence support from international partners. Zelenskyy has also continued to call for international pressure on Russia and further measures aimed at reducing its ability to conduct large-scale attacks.
The latest wave of strikes therefore remains part of the broader military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. While diplomatic discussions continue internationally, Ukrainian cities remain exposed to drone and missile attacks.
As emergency services continue their work at damaged sites, authorities are assessing the full impact of the latest strikes. The market attack near Kyiv, together with the wider attacks reported across Ukraine, demonstrates the continuing scale of the aerial campaign and its impact on civilian areas.
