Russian drone attack targets Konotop and Sumy cities as Ukraine downs 34 Shaheds of 51

In the early hours of 17 September, Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine, targeting multiple regions with Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Ukrainian Air Force reported that a total of 51 attack drones were detected and tracked from the directions of Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea. The assault injured at least one civilian in Konotop and damaged the power grid in Sumy City.

Ukrainian air defense systems, including combat aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine, successfully intercepted and destroyed 34 attack drones, as per the Air Force. Additionally, 12 drones were “locationally lost” (crashed) in several regions of Ukraine due to active countermeasures by the Defense Forces’ electronic warfare systems. Two more enemy attack drones returned to Russia, the Air Force says, which suggests that only two Shaheds reached their targets.

The Air Force reported that air defense systems were active in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Sumy, Poltava, and Kharkiv oblasts. The attack lasted from 19:00 to 06:00.

Sumy Oblast bore the brunt of the assault, with the regional capital Sumy experiencing a “massive air strike” by Shahed drones, according to the authorities. The Sumy Regional Military Administration reported that around 10 explosions were heard in the city starting from 23:20. As a result of the attack, Sumy lost electricity, causing water to be supplied at reduced pressure. Trolleybuses were unable to operate due to the power outage. There were no injuries resulting from the night attack.

Artem Kobzar, the acting mayor of Sumy, confirmed significant damage to the energy infrastructure was reported. As of 07:00 on 17 September, 281,072 consumers in Sumy Oblast were temporarily without electricity, according to Sumyoblenergo. The power outage affected consumers in Sumy, as well as the Sumy, Konotop, and Okhtyrka district power grids, along with several other local areas.

Critical infrastructure facilities, including water utilities and hospitals, were switched to backup power systems. Restoration work is currently underway. The Sumy Regional Military Administration reported that air defense forces shot down 16 Shahed drones over the region’s territory.

Hours before the attack on Sumy, Russian forces struck the city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast with a Shahed drone late on 16 September. Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported one person injured as a result of this attack.

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