{"id":439365,"date":"2025-09-20T20:53:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T20:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/439365\/"},"modified":"2025-09-20T20:53:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T20:53:14","slug":"ukraine-massive-russian-air-attack-hits-civilians-infrastructure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/439365\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine: ‘Massive’ Russian air attack hits civilians, infrastructure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sept. 20 (UPI) — Russia launched more than 600 drones and missiles across Ukraine<\/a> in a “massive” attack overnight Friday aimed at infrastructure, residential areas and civilians, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

Zelensky, in a post on X<\/a>, said that Russia fired 40 missiles, including cruise and ballistic, and about 580 drones of various types that struck, killing three people and injuring at least 30.\n<\/p>\n

“All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia,” Zelensky posted. “I thank all our warriors who defended the skies throughout the night, and our F-16 pilots, who once again proved their prowess today and effectively countered the cruise missile threat against Ukraine.”\n<\/p>\n

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All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia. The enemy launched 40 missiles – cruise and ballistic – and about 580 drones of various types. I thank all our warriors who defended the skies throughout the night, and our F-16 pilots, who once again proved their prowess… pic.twitter.com\/ajjQV3XwnI<\/a>\u2014 Volodymyr Zelenskyy \/ \u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 (@ZelenskyyUa) September 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He said the strikes targeted the Dnipro region, as well as Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia regions, and communities in Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions.<\/p>\n

“The enemy aimed at our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises,” Zelensky wrote. “In Dnipro, a missile with cluster munitions directly struck an apartment building.”<\/p>\n

He added that “every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians and destroy our infrastructure” and continued to press for additional assistance from the international community.<\/p>\n

“That is why a strong international response is needed,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine has proven it can defend itself and Europe, but for a reliable shield, we must act together: strengthen air defense, increase weapons supplies, and expand sanctions against Russia’s military machine and the sectors that finance it. Every restriction on Russia saves lives. I thank everyone who helps and supports us.”<\/p>\n

Ukraine’s State Emergency Services also posted images of the attacks.\n<\/p>\n

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\u2757\u041a\u0438\u0457\u0432\u0449\u0438\u043d\u0430: \u043b\u0456\u043a\u0432\u0456\u0434\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0441\u043b\u0456\u0434\u043a\u0438 \u0440\u043e\u0441\u0456\u0439\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u043e\u0431\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0456\u043b\u0456\u0432<\/p>\n

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\u0412 \u041e\u0431\u0443\u0445\u0456\u0432\u0441\u044c\u043a\u043e\u043c\u0443 \u0440\u0430\u0439\u043e\u043d\u0456 \u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u043a\u043b\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0436\u0435\u0436\u0430 \u0456 \u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043a\u043e\u0432\u0430 \u0440\u0443\u0439\u043d\u0430\u0446\u0456\u044f \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0436\u0438\u0442\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0438\u043d\u043a\u0443. pic.twitter.com\/CmALQlEjHd<\/a>\u2014 DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) September 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

On Saturday, Russia confirmed<\/a> the military “launched a massive strike using long-range air- and ground-based precision weapons and attack drones against Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises developing the Sapsan tactical missile system, producing multipurpose strike and reconnaissance drones, robotic combat vehicles, interceptor UAVs, and loitering munitions.”<\/p>\n

For one week threough Friday, Russian air defense systems shot down 1,667 fixed-wing drones, four guided bombs, and four HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, TASS reported<\/a>. Four settlements were liberated over the past week, including Novonikolayevka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and Olgovskoye in the Zaporozhye Region, the military said.<\/p>\n

Around 10,000 Ukrainian troops were lost, the Defense Ministry reported. Ukraine did not list casualty figures.<\/p>\n

Though Zelensky said most of the missiles and drones were repelled, Russia said “the strike’s objectives were achieved” and “all designated targets were hit.”<\/p>\n

As U.S. President Donald Trump<\/a> works for an end to the war that started with Russia’s invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, long-range strikes have continued to be launched between the two countries.<\/p>\n

Trump has become increasingly dissatisfied with Russian President Vladimir Putin since they met in Alaska on Aug. 15,<\/a> and cited progress toward peace, although a one-on-one meeting with Putin and Zelensky has yet to take place.\n<\/p>\n

Zelensky said Saturday that he planned to meet Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York.<\/p>\n

Zelensky has sought expanded sanctions and tariffs against Russia.<\/p>\n

“And if the world does not deliver a truly tangible response to Russia’s prolonging of the war, if sanctions and tariffs are postponed, if the Russian army can already launch drones with impunity even against Poland — Putin will continue to see it as permission to wage war,” Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n

Russia confirmed strikes within its borders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Samara regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said four people died “as a result of an overnight attack by enemy drones” and another person was injured.<\/p>\n

Ukraine’s military said drones struck the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara region in southeastern Russia. Also, the Saratov oil refinery was hit overnight in the neighbouring region.<\/p>\n

After a “huge” number of drones went into Poland last week<\/a>, NATO responded by launching Operation Eastern Sentry to enhance protection for its allies.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Zaporozhye Region Gov. Yevgeny Balitsky warned about the consequences of a Ukrainian strike on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which is in southeastern Ukraine and currently occupied by Russian forces. It is the largest plant in Europe.\n<\/p>\n

“Imagine what happens if one of those strikes hits the reactor or a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel,” Balitsky wrote on Telegram<\/a>. “A radioactive disaster would affect not only the Zaporozhye Region or Russia, but also the whole of Europe! But the Kiev regime does not care a damn. They could risk the future of the entire planet for the sake of their political ambitions.”<\/p>\n

He said Russia and ZNPP employees are making every effort to protect the nuclear facility.<\/p>\n

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