Key trends
- Russian forces occupied a total of seven settlements in the Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kharkiv regions, while Ukrainian forces regained a settlement in the Luhansk region.
- ACLED records 31 Russian long-range missile and drone strikes, including in the Kyiv region and Kyiv city. Ukrainian forces intercepted strikes in at least 15 other instances in 10 regions, including in the western region of Khmelnytskyi.
- Russian shelling, missiles, and drones killed at least 15 civilians in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Kherson regions, and in the city of Kyiv.
Key events
- 23 Sep. | Zaporizhia – Russian airstrikes hit residential buildings in Zaporizhia city, killing one civilian and injuring 17 others
- 25 Sep. | Donetsk – Russian aerial bombs hit Kramatorsk, killing two civilians and wounding 19 others, including three aid workers
- 27 Sep. | Odesa – Russian drones hit Izmail, killing three civilians and wounding 16 others
Spotlight: Russia and Ukraine exchange accusations of targeting energy infrastructure
On 25 March, following US-mediated talks with Ukraine and Russia, the White House announced that both sides confirmed adherence to a 30-day moratorium on strikes against each other’s energy infrastructure. They also agreed to ensure the flow of goods via the Black Sea,1The White House, “Outcomes of the United States and Ukraine Expert Groups On the Black Sea,” 25 March 2025 though Russia tied implementation of this to the lifting of sanctions in the banking and agricultural sectors.2President of Russia, “Main outcomes of the Russia and United States expert groups meeting,” 25 March 2025 Nevertheless, ACLED data show that the situation on the ground and at sea did not improve.
Russia continued its systematic strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. ACLED records strikes in at least eight locations across seven regions. On 27 March, Russian drones struck an industrial area in Poltava, disrupting power supply and damaging gas storage infrastructure at a Naftogaz facility.3Reuters, “Ukrainian gas firm reports damage from Russian strike amid energy ceasefire”, 28 March 2025 Earlier during the day, an artillery strike that lasted for over an hour damaged unspecified energy infrastructure and residential areas in Kherson, killing at least two civilians and injuring seven others, while causing a power outage in parts of the frontline city. Russian artillery and drone strikes damaged gas pipelines in the Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and cut power lines across five regions, causing a power outage in the city of Mykolaiv.
Meanwhile, during the same week, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking underground gas storage sites on Tarkhankut Cape in occupied Crimea,4Yelizaveta Fokht, “Russia and Ukraine are arguing about the terms of the agreement on the Black Sea and energy facilities. What is the difference between their versions,” BBC News in Ukrainian, 27 March 2025 destroying the Sudzha gas metering station,5The Moscow Times, “Russian Army Accuses Ukraine of Attacking Sudzha Gas Metering Station,” 29 March 2025 and targeting the oil depots in Russia’s Krasnodar and Saratov regions, as well as electricity infrastructure in 11 other locations in four regions. Ukraine’s Military Intelligence also claimed that its drones struck two Russian tugboats and radars in Crimea.
Explore the ACLED Conflict Exposure tool to assess the numbers of people affected by armed violence, disaggregated by locations, time period, and actors involved.