Russian strikes in Sumy and Kherson kill six civilians; Dnipro shopping centre hit, regional officials say

Russian strikes across several regions of Ukraine on September 19 killed six civilians and caused additional injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure, regional Ukrainian officials said. The attacks, which included drone strikes and artillery fire, struck populated areas in Sumy, Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to statements from local military administrations.

In Sumy region, a Russian drone struck a light vehicle in Shostka district, killing four people, Oleg Grigorov, head of the Sumy regional military administration, reported. Grigorov’s account indicates the attack directly hit the car, causing immediate fatalities among those inside.

In southern Kherson region, two women were killed in separate incidents over the same 24-hour period, Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson regional military administration, said. One woman died immediately when a Russian drone struck the village of Lvivski Otruby. The other woman was killed by Russian artillery fire in the village of Novovorontsovka.

Dnipropetrovsk region was also targeted during the daytime on September 19. A strike hit the Kontinent shopping centre in the city of Dnipro, igniting a fire and wounding three people, Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Ganja reported. Officials said warehouses and multi-storey residential buildings in the city were damaged as well. Including the three injured at the shopping centre, authorities said five people in the region suffered injuries during the wave of attacks.

Regional officials said Russian forces launched almost 40 strikes on the oblast over the course of a single day, using drones and artillery, underscoring the intensity and frequency of attacks on populated areas. The damage to civilian buildings, commercial facilities and homes reported by local authorities illustrates the wide-ranging impact of the strikes on everyday life and civilian safety.

Ukraine and multiple international organisations regard strikes on civilian infrastructure and non-combatants as potential war crimes under international humanitarian law. Despite mounting evidence documented by Ukrainian authorities and foreign observers, Russian officials have repeatedly denied responsibility for attacks on civilian sites or have characterized strikes as targeting legitimate military objectives.

The incidents on September 19 add to a pattern of cross-regional attacks that raise questions about the protection of civilians and adherence to the laws of armed conflict. The deaths in Sumy and Kherson, and the blaze at a major shopping centre in Dnipro, increase pressure on international bodies and governments to investigate reports of deliberate or indiscriminate strikes on non-military targets and to pursue accountability where breaches of international law are suspected.

Local administrations continue to document casualties and damage as they provide emergency response and support to affected communities. With regions reporting both fatalities and injuries from drone strikes and artillery fire, Ukrainian authorities emphasize the continuing threat to civilians across multiple front-line and rear areas and the need for continued monitoring and international attention to attacks on non-combatants.