Fact check
AI analysis“New strikes have occurred”
Reasoning
Ukrainian Defence Ministry and UN OCHA confirm missile/artillery strikes on 25 Sept 2026 in Russian‑controlled areas; Reuters correspondents observed missile launches and air‑defence engagements. The Russian Defence Ministry and the Institute for the Study of War dispute any verifiable large‑scale strikes. The preponderance of sources indicates that some new strikes likely occurred, though the scale and exact locations remain contested.
On confidence: Multiple primary (Ukrainian MoD, UN OCHA) and independent (Reuters) sources report new strikes, while Russian MoD and ISW deny them, creating mixed but overall supportive evidence.
Important context
The claim pertains to ongoing hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, where both sides frequently issue conflicting statements. Independent reporting is limited, and official statements may be influenced by propaganda or strategic messaging.
Evidence
Supporting (3)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceUkrainian Armed Forces report new strikes on Russian positions
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that on 25 September 2026 Ukrainian forces carried out coordinated missile strikes against Russian command posts in the Belgorod region, resulting in confirmed damage to infrastructure.
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceUN OCHA Situation Report 26 September 2026
The UN OCHA situation report notes that new artillery and missile strikes were recorded on 25 September in both Ukrainian and Russian‑controlled areas, causing civilian casualties and damage to health facilities.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originUkraine and Russia exchange new strikes amid escalating fighting
Reuters correspondents on the ground reported multiple missile launches from Ukrainian positions targeting Russian supply lines in the Kursk region, with Russian air defenses engaging the projectiles.
Contradicting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceNo new strikes reported in Russian territory
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that there have been no new aerial or missile strikes on Russian territory in the past 24 hours, and all reported incidents are being investigated as false alarms.
- Tier 3 — Secondary reportingindependent originInstitute for the Study of War – Daily Update 26 Sep 2026
The ISW analysis indicates that, despite media claims, there is no verifiable evidence of new large‑scale strikes in the last 48 hours, suggesting earlier reports may be overstated.
Limitations
No direct, third‑party verification (e.g., satellite imagery) is provided; reliance on government statements and secondary analysis introduces bias. The evidence does not clarify the magnitude of the strikes, only that some occurred.
- Last verified:
- Sep 26, 2026, 5:20 PM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 0.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
At least 10 people killed in Russian and Ukrainian attacksAl Jazeera