Russia Unleashes Massive Missile and Drone Barrage on Ukraine as Moscow Claims Tsirkon Hypersonic Strikes Hit Key Industries

Russia says its forces carried out a large-scale overnight attack across Ukraine, targeting metallurgical plants, chemical facilities, logistics hubs, energy infrastructure and sites Moscow claims were connected to Ukrainian weapons production.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the operation involved precision weapons launched from land, sea and air alongside attack drones, with targets reported in Kyiv and the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava and Odesa regions.

Ukraine separately confirmed a major overnight aerial assault. Its Air Force said Russia launched 212 drones alongside several types of missiles, with strikes recorded at 22 locations. Ukrainian officials also reported casualties and damage to businesses and infrastructure.

Russia Says Tsirkon Hypersonic Missiles Were Used

Russia’s Defence Ministry said sea-launched Tsirkon hypersonic missiles were among the weapons deployed during the overnight operation.

The ministry portrayed the barrage in dramatic terms on the Max messaging platform, comparing the attack to the legendary “Ninth Wave” — traditionally described as the largest and most dangerous wave during a storm.

Russia said the Tsirkon launches formed part of a coordinated attack involving several categories of long-range weapons.

Ukraine’s Air Force gave a different breakdown of the incoming weapons, reporting Oniks anti-ship missiles, ballistic missiles, four Kalibr cruise missiles, eight Banderol/Dan-T missiles and 212 drones. Ukrainian officials said 186 aerial targets had been destroyed or suppressed as of Tuesday morning.

Industrial Facilities Across Dnipropetrovsk Region Targeted

Some of the heaviest strikes were reported in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces targeted industrial enterprises in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Pavlohrad that Moscow alleges were contributing to Ukrainian military production.

Among them was the Interpipe Steel facility in Dnipro, which Russia claimed supplied rolled steel used in manufacturing components for long-range drones.

Moscow also said a metallurgical plant in Kryvyi Rih producing steel products for military applications was struck.

Ukrainian regional officials independently confirmed that industrial sites in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Pavlohrad had been attacked, although they did not confirm Russia’s claims about the facilities’ alleged military functions.

Deadly Strike Reported in Dnipro

The overnight operation also resulted in civilian casualties, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said Russian missiles, drones and artillery struck several districts of the region.

Reuters reported that at least three people were killed and another six injured in Dnipro, where a business and warehouse facilities suffered extensive damage.

Industrial enterprises were also damaged in Pavlohrad and Kryvyi Rih, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russia Claims Rocket Fuel Facility Was Hit in Pavlohrad

Russia’s Defence Ministry identified another target as the JV CJSC Sofrakhim facility in Pavlohrad.

Moscow claimed the plant was involved in producing solid rocket fuel, gunpowder and components connected with Fire Point’s FP-9 ballistic missiles.

According to the Russian military, the facility produced both warheads and fuel components.

There was no independent confirmation of those specific production claims in the reporting reviewed.

Moscow Says Fire Point Facility in Kyiv Was Struck

Russia also claimed to have attacked a Fire Point industrial facility in Kyiv.

The Defence Ministry alleged that the site manufactured components and warheads for FP-5 Flamingo long-range cruise missiles.

Another reported target in the Ukrainian capital was a Grandterminal fuel depot.

Moscow claimed the facility served as a logistics hub used by Ukrainian forces to receive and distribute diesel fuel.

Russian Attack Causes Damage in Kyiv

Ukraine reported damage in the capital during the wider overnight attack.

Emergency authorities said part of a five-storey residential building in Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi district was damaged, with several people reported injured.

The incident illustrated the wider consequences of the large-scale bombardment as missiles and drones crossed Ukrainian airspace.

Russia maintains that its strikes are directed at military and military-linked infrastructure, while Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly documented damage to civilian buildings during Russian aerial attacks.

Russia Claims Tobacco Factory Was Producing Ammunition

One of the more unusual targets identified by Moscow was the JTI Ukraine tobacco factory in Kremenchuk.

Russia’s Defence Ministry alleged that production capacity at the facility had been repurposed for manufacturing small-arms ammunition for Ukrainian forces.

The claim was included in Moscow’s detailed account of the overnight operation.

Ukrainian authorities confirmed that an industrial enterprise and critical infrastructure facility in the Kremenchuk district of Poltava region were struck overnight, but the available Ukrainian reports did not substantiate Moscow’s ammunition-production allegation.

Odesa Logistics Centres Targeted in Overnight Attack

Russia said the attack extended to several logistics facilities in the Odesa region.

According to the Defence Ministry, two logistics centres in Odesa and a Nova Post facility were struck.

Moscow alleged that the sites were being used to store and distribute military and dual-use cargo intended for Ukrainian forces.

Russia also reported attacking port infrastructure at Reni that it said was being used to unload and store military cargo, fuel and lubricants.

Russia Claims Cargo Ship Carrying Military Supplies Was Hit

The Russian military further claimed that a dry cargo vessel travelling toward Odesa was struck while at sea.

According to Moscow, the vessel was transporting military supplies destined for the Ukrainian port.

Russia provided the claim as part of its broader account of strikes against Ukrainian maritime logistics.

Independent reporting reviewed for this article did not establish the cargo carried by the vessel or independently confirm Moscow’s characterization of it as a military supply ship.

Radar Stations Targeted With Geran Drones

Russia also released footage that it said showed Geran-4 Seeker drones attacking Ukrainian radar and communications infrastructure.

The Defence Ministry claimed three radar stations and a radio-relay communications station were hit in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions.

According to Moscow, all four designated targets were successfully struck.

The reported attacks form part of Russia’s continuing campaign against Ukrainian air-defence, communications and drone infrastructure.

Moscow Claims Ukrainian Forces Encircled Near Dobropolye

Away from the overnight aerial operation, Russia announced what it described as a significant battlefield development in the Donetsk region.

The Defence Ministry claimed Russian forces had completed the encirclement of a major Ukrainian strongpoint around Dobropolye and were advancing toward Aleksandrovka.

Moscow further claimed that Ukraine’s 4th and 15th National Guard brigades and the 425th Skala Assault Regiment had been surrounded.

The Russian ministry said its forces were attempting to eliminate the encircled formations.

Those battlefield claims were not independently verified in the sources reviewed.

Russia Reports Continuing Encirclement Operations in Kharkiv Region

The Russian Defence Ministry made additional claims concerning fighting in the Kharkiv region.

Moscow said its Battlegroup North was tightening an encirclement while simultaneously expanding the surrounding zone under Russian control.

Russian forces were reported to be conducting operations around Posredneye, Novosyolovka, Petropavlovka and Prikolotnoye.

The ministry also claimed Ukrainian troops had suffered losses near Krasny Yar, Potikhonovo, Buzovo, Reznikovo, Khripuny, Varvarovka and Grachovka.

Moscow Says Ukrainian Breakout Attempts Failed

Russia claimed Ukrainian troops had attempted to escape the alleged Kharkiv encirclement but had been prevented from doing so.

The Defence Ministry said Ukrainian losses inside the area amounted to as many as 40 personnel and one armoured vehicle.

As with Moscow’s Dobropolye claims, independently available reporting did not verify the Russian account of the encirclement or the reported Ukrainian losses.

Russia Claims Ukraine Lost More Than 1,300 Troops in 24 Hours

Russia also published its latest estimate of Ukrainian battlefield losses, claiming Kyiv lost as many as 1,315 personnel across the frontline during the previous 24 hours.

According to Moscow’s figures, Ukraine lost more than 215 personnel against Battlegroup North, up to 200 against Battlegroup West and roughly 170 against Battlegroup South.

The Defence Ministry additionally claimed more than 420 Ukrainian losses in Battlegroup Center’s area, over 270 against Battlegroup East and up to 40 against Battlegroup Dnepr.

Casualty figures issued by the belligerents during the war cannot generally be independently verified in real time.

Russia Reports 629 Ukrainian Drones Downed in One Day

Russia’s Defence Ministry separately claimed its air defences intercepted 629 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones during the previous 24 hours.

It also reported destroying six guided aerial bombs and one US-made HIMARS rocket.

Those figures cover a broader 24-hour period and are separate from Moscow’s earlier announcement that 297 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted overnight across multiple Russian regions.

Ukraine has substantially increased long-range drone operations against Russian industrial, energy and military infrastructure as the aerial war between the two countries has intensified.

Russian Military Says 148 Ukrainian Sites Were Struck

Beyond the major overnight bombardment, Moscow said Russian aircraft, drones, missile forces and artillery attacked Ukrainian positions and facilities at 148 locations during the previous day.

The Russian Defence Ministry said those targets included logistics centres, drone-production workshops, UAV storage facilities and temporary deployment points for Ukrainian formations and foreign fighters.

The claims form part of Russia’s daily battlefield reporting and could not all be independently verified.

Ukraine Says More Than 200 Russian Drones Were Launched Overnight

Ukraine’s account confirms the scale of the overnight Russian aerial offensive while differing from Moscow over several details.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 212 Shahed-type and decoy drones alongside multiple missile types during the night of September 21-22.

According to Kyiv, Ukrainian forces destroyed or suppressed 177 drones, one Kalibr cruise missile and eight Banderol/Dan-T missiles by Tuesday morning, while impacts were recorded at 22 locations.

Reuters separately reported that Russian strikes hit Ukraine’s industrial heartland, with attacks confirmed against industrial enterprises in Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Pavlohrad.

The latest barrage comes as both Russia and Ukraine increasingly target industrial, logistics and energy infrastructure far behind the front lines, even as intense ground fighting continues across eastern and northeastern Ukraine.