A mass Russian drone assault on Sept. 12 injured five people in Volyn Oblast and damaged energy infrastructure in Rivne Oblast, far from the front lines.

Russian forces conducted a mass drone attack on western Ukraine on Sept. 12, causing injuries in Volyn Oblast and power outages in Rivne Oblast. Regional authorities reported that the strikes targeted areas far from the front lines, hitting both residential and infrastructure sites.

Impact in Volyn Oblast

Governor Roman Romaniuk stated that more than 10 drones entered Volyn's airspace during an attack lasting over four hours, with most targeting the Kovel community. Five people were injured, though no deaths occurred. Additionally, drone debris struck a passenger train in Lutsk, but passengers had been evacuated prior to the impact, resulting in no injuries.

Damage in Rivne Oblast

In neighboring Rivne Oblast, Governor Oleksandr Koval reported that Russian strikes caused power outages in the Dubno and Rivne districts. An enterprise located in the Sarny district was also destroyed. No casualties were reported in the region, and crews have begun efforts to restore electricity.

Wider Context of the Assault

The strikes on Volyn and Rivne were part of a larger nationwide drone assault on Sept. 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia launched nearly 500 strike drones across Ukraine throughout the day, characterizing the tactic as an attempt to destroy infrastructure essential for civilian survival.