October 17: What Happened on This Day in History
October 17th marks the 290th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 291st in case of leap years). There are 75 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on October 17th in history, famous birthdays on October 17th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to October 17.
What happened on October 17?
Here's what happened on October 17th in history:
- 2022: On October 17, 2022, Russian forces launched a coordinated drone attack on Ukraine, targeting the capital city of Kyiv and other strategic locations. The assault involved Iranian-made kamikaze drones, which struck Kyiv and the port city of Mykolaiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned these attacks as acts of terror against civilian populations. The drone strikes occurred amid a complex military context, with simultaneous explosions reported in the occupied Ukrainian city of Donetsk and Russia's Belgorod border region, which serves as a key staging area for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- 2019: Drug cartels in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico successfully forced the Mexican government to abandon an arrest operation, demonstrating their significant power and influence over state security forces.
- 2017: Two separate violent incidents in Afghanistan resulted in significant casualties: a suicide attack on a police station in Paktia Province killed at least 20 people, while another gun attack on a training facility in Ghazni Province left 15 more dead.
- 2016: The Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and backed by the U.S.-led Coalition, officially launched the Battle of Mosul to reclaim the city from the Islamic State (ISIL), which had previously declared it the capital of their self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq.
- 2009: Jay W. Johnson, a prominent television broadcaster with a 32-year career and former US Congressman, passed away at age 66 from an apparent heart attack in Virginia, USA. He served as a US Congressman from 1996 to 1997 and was the 36th director of the US Mint from 1999 to 2001.
- 2005: Ba Jin, a prominent Chinese writer and literary figure who was born in 1904, passed away. Known for his significant contributions to modern Chinese literature, Ba Jin was an influential author who chronicled social changes in 20th-century China.
- 2003: The pinnacle was fitted on the roof of Taipei 101, a remarkable 106-floor skyscraper in Taipei, surpassing the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur by 50 meters (165 feet) and establishing itself as the world's tallest high-rise at the time.
- 1980: Mike Whitney made his first-class cricket debut in a match between New South Wales and Queensland, marking the beginning of his professional cricket career.
- 1979: Kimi Räikkönen, a renowned Finnish Formula One race car driver, was born on this date. He would later become known as the 'Iceman' for his cool and composed racing style.
- 1974: The New Orleans Jazz began an unprecedented 28-game road losing streak, setting a challenging record in NBA history.
What famous birthdays are on October 17?
On October 17th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Smita Patil]()
Smita Patil (1955)Iconic Indian actress who significantly contributed to parallel cinema and was known for her powerful, socially conscious performances in...
![Felicity Jones]()
Felicity Jones (1983)Felicity Jones is an acclaimed English actress known for her powerful performances in critically acclaimed films like The Theory of...
![Michael McKean]()
Michael McKean (1947)Renowned American comedian, actor, and musician best known for his roles in 'Laverne & Shirley', 'This Is Spinal Tap', and 'Better Call...
![Montgomery Clift]()
Montgomery Clift (1920)Montgomery Clift was a groundbreaking American actor known for his intense method acting style and iconic roles in classic films like 'From...
![Wyclef Jean]()
Wyclef Jean (1972)Wyclef Jean is a Grammy Award-winning Haitian-American musician, rapper, and actor, best known as a founding member of the influential...
![Mike Judge]()
Mike Judge (1962)Renowned American animator, filmmaker, and voice actor famous for creating 'Beavis and Butt-Head', 'King of the Hill', and 'Silicon Valley'.
![Jean Arthur]()
Jean Arthur (1900)Jean Arthur was a prominent Hollywood actress of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her distinctive voice and comedic talents.
![Evel Knievel]()
Evel Knievel (1938)Legendary American motorcycle stuntman who became a cultural icon through his death-defying motorcycle jumps and spectacular performances.
![Rob Marshall]()
Rob Marshall (1960)Renowned American film and theater director known for Broadway musicals and Hollywood films like 'Chicago' and 'Into the Woods'.
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on October 17?
On October 17th the following celebrities died:
![Teresa Brewer]()
Teresa Brewer (2007)Renowned American jazz and pop singer who was popular in the 1950s and known for her distinctive vocal style and hit songs.
![Danièle Delorme]()
Danièle Delorme (2015)French actress and film producer, daughter of a noted painter and resistance worker.
![Levi Stubbs]()
Levi Stubbs (2008)Legendary American soul singer and lead vocalist of the iconic Motown group Four Tops, known for his powerful baritone voice and memorable...
![John Stuart]()
- Elijah Cummings (2019)
Elijah Cummings was a prominent African American politician and civil rights advocate who served in the U.S.
- Émile Allais (2012)
Legendary French alpine ski racer who dominated the sport in the 1930s, winning multiple world championship gold medals and revolutionizing...
- Raymond Aron (1983)
Raymond Aron was a prominent French intellectual who significantly contributed to political sociology, liberal theory, and Cold War...
- Joey Bishop (2007)
Joey Bishop was a prominent American comedian, actor, and television host, best known as a key member of the legendary Rat Pack alongside...
- Ingeborg Bachmann (1973)
Renowned Austrian poet and philosopher who made significant contributions to post-war literature.
What day of the year is October 17?
October 17th marks the 290th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 291st in case of leap years).
There are 75 days remaining until the end of the year.
October 17th is the 17th day of the month of October.
What day of the week is October 17?
On October 17th, 2025 the day of the week is Friday.
| October | 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
What zodiac sign is associated with the day October 17?
The zodiac sign associated with October 17th is Libra according to the Western Zodiac.
