A Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia kills three, causes extensive damage. Ukrainian troops continue to advance near Dobropillya. Ukraine claims the first-ever strike on Russia’s Be-12 Chayka amphibious aircraft.
Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia kills three, causes extensive damage
A Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia on Monday morning killed three people and injured at least two others. Russia used at least five aerial bombs in the attack, head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov said.
“Monday morning in Zaporizhzhia began with explosions and fires,” he wrote in a post to social media. The strike damaged 15 apartment buildings, 10 private homes, a critical infrastructure site, non-residential buildings and a parking lot across the city, he added.
“Neither of the [damaged] sites is part of the military infrastructure. It was a deliberate act of terror against a peaceful city and its residents,” Fedorov said.
Reacting to Russia’s attack on Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi who is scheduled to attend the UN General Assembly high-level week commencing in New York on Tuesday, said on X: “It’s for the fourth time in a row that Russia accompanies one of the world’s highest-level annual diplomatic events with killings. That is precisely why it is so important for this diplomatic week to be productive. Action must be taken so that murder and war do not become routine. Real, powerful pressure on Russia is needed; new joint steps from everyone in the world who believe that international law must work again. Europe, the United States, the G7 and the G20 countries — all who have real influence on Russia.”
Ukrainian troops continue to advance near Dobropillya
Ukrainian troops continue to advance in the Dobropillya direction in eastern Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a post to social media Monday.
“In the past day, [Ukrainian troops] regained control of 1.3 square kilometers of land in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region. They also searched for enemy [groups] and eliminated them in an area covering 2.1 square kilometers. The assault units have advances 200 meters to 2.5 kilometers in some directions,” Syrskyi said.
“As of midnight on September 22, 2025, [Ukrainian forces] have liberated 164.5 square kilometers and have cleared 180.8 square kilometers from enemy sabotage groups since they began the operation. They have also regained control of seven settlements and have cleared nine from enemy sabotage groups,” he added.
Russia has suffered 2,696 casualties in the Dobropillya direction, including 1,492 killed in action, Ukraine’s chief commander said. Ukraine is taking Russian soldiers captive, building up “exchange material” to swap for its service members, he added.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi visited a command post on the eastern frontlines. Zelenskyi decorated the troops for the counteroffensive operation near Dobropillya. He said Ukrainian forces had recaptured 160 square kilometers and seven towns and villages.
Last month, DeepState, a Ukrainian OSINT project, said Russian forces were quickly gaining ground near Dobropillya, exploiting weaknesses in the defenses. Ukraine’s Dnipro operational-strategic group of forces said small enemy groups penetrated Ukrainian defenses there.
Ukraine claims first-ever strike on Russian Be-12 Chayka amphibious aircraft
The Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said its Prymary (Phantoms) unit had struck two Russian Be-12 Chayka amphibious aircraft in occupied Crimea on September 21.
“This is the first-ever strike on a Be-12 in history. Be-12 Chayka amphibious planes are equipped with high-value systems to detect and engage enemy submarines,” Ukraine’s defense intelligence said in a statement.
The Prymary unit also hit a Russian Mi-8 helicopter in the attack.
The Be-12 Chayka has a length of more than 30 meters, a wingspan of 29.84 meters and a maximum speed of 530 kilometers per hour. The plane had its first flight in 1960.
According to earlier reports, the Prymary unit also took out three Russian Mi-8 helicopters and a radar system in Crimea on Sunday.
On September 14, Ukraine’s defense intelligence said its special forces had destroyed a costly Russian 9K317M Buk-M3 air defense system in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region. It has an estimated value of between USD 40 million and USD 50 million.