Ukraine says three killed in 'massive' Russian aerial attack
Ukraine reports casualties and damage across the country as Moscow says the strikes used precision weapons against military targets; Kyiv says 619 drones and missiles were launched.
Three people were killed and more than 30 were injured in an overnight Russian aerial attack on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, describing the strike as 'massive' and part of a 'deliberate strategy' to 'intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure', with a direct missile hit reported on a residential building. Zelensky said regions across the country were targeted as Moscow sought to undermine civilian life and critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian air force said Moscow launched 619 drones and missiles in the assault, underscoring the scale of the operation. Kyiv described the strikes as penetrating multiple regions and aimed at overwhelming Ukraine's energy and other civilian networks. The attack followed a pattern of cross-border drone activity that has become a hallmark of the conflict.
Russia's defence ministry said the 'massive strike' employed 'precision weapons' and targeted military-industrial facilities. It did not detail the specific facilities involved, but asserted the aims were military in nature and aligned with Russia's strategic objectives in its war effort.
Separately, Russia said four people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Saratov region, while Kyiv said it had hit a major oil refinery in the same area. Ukraine also said another Russian oil refinery was damaged in the neighboring Samara region, a claim Kyiv has repeatedly circulated as part of its broader effort to disrupt Russia's domestic energy capacity tied to the war.
The BBC has been unable to independently verify the competing claims from Moscow and Kyiv amid the fog of war and the flux of battlefield reports.
Cross-border drone raids have become a prominent feature of the conflict. In July, a sustained Ukrainian drone campaign forced the temporary closure of all Moscow airports, signaling the reach of Ukrainian strikes into Russia's own heartland.
Kyiv and its Western allies — including the United States — continue to press for a ceasefire, while acknowledging the difficulty of achieving a durable pause in hostilities. Earlier this month, Kyiv said the capital’s government district was struck by what it described as a Russian Iskander cruise missile, prompting international concern and renewed discussions about escalation.
Zelensky said on Saturday that he planned to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, a development observers viewed as a potential signaling of diplomatic efforts amid the fighting.
Estonia said it had requested urgent consultations with NATO after Russian jets violated its airspace, staying there for about 12 minutes before being intercepted. Moscow denied the violation. Tensions have also risen after Poland and Romania, both NATO members, reported Russian drones breaching their airspace earlier this month, highlighting the broader risk of miscalculation in the region.