During the large-scale combined long-range attack by Russia, which took place on the night of September 7, the building of the Council of Ministers of Ukraine was hit. According to initial information, the strike was caused by a ''Shahed'' drone. However, experts announced today that the attack was carried out not with a drone, but with a 9M727 cruise missile from the "Iskander" operational-tactical complex. This was reported on Monday, September 8, Defense Express, citing a source familiar with the results of the analysis of the fragments.
The publication notes that the warhead of the missile did not explode. The fire that broke out on the upper floors of the Council of Ministers was caused by the ignition of fuel from the enemy missile tanks.
"In the event of a regular launch of the missile's warhead, the mass of which is about 450 kg, the consequences of this strike would have been much greater", analysts emphasize.
Defense Express also pointed out that, according to official data published by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the attack on the night of September 7, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with nine "Iskander" cruise missiles, four of which were shot down.
"Iskander", four of which were shot down. Together with them, the enemy launched 810 drones of various types, of which 747 units were neutralized and shot down. As well as 4 ballistic missiles that were not shot down.
The 9M727 cruise missile is one of three designed for the Iskander missile system, along with the 9M728 and 9M729. Most often they are simply designated as the Iskander-K or R-500. It is believed that the 9M727 is a ground-launched variant of the 3M-14 Caliber.
It is actively used by the Russians to strike Ukrainian cities. One of the most famous episodes of its use is the strike on the Chernigov Drama Theater in 2023.
Like most other Russian weapons, this missile also actively uses Western microelectronic components from the civilian market, which are manufactured in China.
Since the beginning of 2025, the number of Russian strikes against Ukraine has increased more than fivefold. In June and July, the Russian Federation launched a record number of drones, combining them with missiles. This is stated in an analysis by the Washington Post.
Record shelling of Ukraine
The publication notes that this summer in Ukraine there were no 'quiet' nights. In June and July, the Russians launched a total of 11,739 drones, which is a record since the beginning of a full-scale war. The Russians have also launched 433 cruise and ballistic missiles into Ukraine in the past two months.
In June and July, 518 civilians were killed in Russian airstrikes and more than 1,500 were wounded. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, June and July were the deadliest months for civilians in the country in three years.
“More drones are being used in one attack now than were used in a single month of strikes in 2024,” Michael Coffman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told reporters.
A senior European diplomat told reporters that the Russians would continue to carry out nighttime attacks on Ukraine, striking different regions of the country. According to him, Russia is not currently interested in stopping hostilities.
The war and its impact on human health
The Washington Post also draws attention to the fact that noise in Ukraine has exceeded the level that the World Health Organization considers healthy for nighttime (about 40-45 decibels). The intensity of sound during war is thousands of times higher than any noise that people encounter in everyday life.
The journalists recall that air raid sirens have a sound volume of 100 to 130 decibels. The sound of a drone explosion can reach 120-150 decibels, and the roar of machine guns used to shoot them down reaches 140-160 decibels. According to the WHO, this is enough to damage hearing.
Thomas Münzel, a senior cardiologist, researcher and head of the European Working Group on Environmental Sustainability, warned that regular nighttime attacks leave a deep biological mark on the human body. He emphasizes that air strikes not only disrupt sleep, but also destabilize the cardiovascular system, load the body with stress hormones and cause long-term changes in the emotional control centers of the brain.
Will Russia stop missile strikes on Ukraine?
Earlier, the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Andrei Yusov, said that Russia does not plan to stop strikes on Ukraine in the near future. He called on Ukrainians to respond to threats.
According to Yusov, August was relatively "calm" due to the political process. The Russians also used this pause to prepare for further attacks, Yusov believes.