In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Ukraine endured one of the largest aerial assaults since the onset of the war, as Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones across nine regions early Saturday morning. The attack, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "massive," killed at least three people and left dozens more injured, with strikes targeting both critical infrastructure and civilian areas. Meanwhile, Kyiv retaliated with its own long-range drone strikes, temporarily disabling two Russian oil refineries, signaling a new phase in the conflict where economic targets are taking center stage.
According to reporting from The Associated Press and corroborated by statements from Ukrainian officials, the Russian offensive involved a staggering 40 missiles and nearly 600 drones—619 in total, as Ukraine's Air Force later specified—aimed at the regions of Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv. The attacks were not indiscriminate; they were calculated to inflict maximum disruption. Zelenskyy wrote on X, "All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia." He continued, "The enemy aimed at our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises."
One of the most harrowing incidents occurred in Dnipro, where a missile equipped with cluster munitions struck a multi-story apartment building. Local governor Serhii Lysak reported that at least 30 people were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region alone, with several high-rise buildings and homes sustaining significant damage. In Chernihiv, local media detailed a particularly cruel sequence: after a drone strike injured three people traveling by car, three medics were dispatched to help, only to be wounded themselves when a second strike hit the area. All six were hospitalized, underscoring the persistent danger faced by both civilians and first responders.
Despite the scale of the assault, Ukraine's air defenses proved remarkably effective. The Air Force claimed to have intercepted and neutralized 552 drones, two ballistic missiles, and 29 cruise missiles out of the 619 total launched. Yet, as Zelenskyy noted, the attacks were less about military objectives and more about sowing terror and undermining Ukraine's infrastructure. "Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians and destroy our infrastructure," Zelenskyy declared.
The Ukrainian president was unequivocal in his call for international support. He urged the global community to "strengthen [Ukraine’s] air defense, increase weapons supplies, and expand sanctions against Russia’s military machine" to bring the war closer to an end. His plea comes at a critical juncture, as he is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. A key point of contention remains the imposition of tougher sanctions on Moscow—a measure Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for but which, according to recent statements, Trump has been hesitant to implement unilaterally. Trump has indicated that the U.S. would move forward with additional sanctions only if other NATO allies cease purchasing Russian oil, a stance Zelenskyy criticized as causing unnecessary delays. "I think we are wasting a lot of time if sanctions are not imposed or some steps are not taken, that we very much expect from [Trump]," Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv.
While the world’s attention was fixed on the devastation inside Ukraine, Kyiv was mounting its own counteroffensive—this time, targeting the economic lifeblood of the Russian war effort. On the same day as the Russian attacks, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and Special Operations Forces launched drone strikes against two major Russian oil refineries in Volgograd and Samara, as well as damaging the main transport infrastructure facility in Samara. According to a source within the SBU, "The SBU continues its successful work on introducing drone sanctions against Russian plants and oil pumping stations. It is this infrastructure that brings petrodollar surpluses to the Russian budget, which fuel the war against Ukraine. Work on blocking these money flows will continue."
Ukraine's General Staff provided further details, stating that the Saratovsky refinery alone processes over 7 million tons of oil annually—about 2.54% of Russia’s total refining capacity. The statement emphasized that "all affected facilities are involved in supplying the Russian Armed Forces," highlighting Kyiv's strategic intent to cripple the financial and logistical underpinnings of Russia’s military operations. This campaign against Russian oil and gas infrastructure is not new, but the scale and precision of the recent strikes mark a significant escalation.
The attacks come as the European Union is ramping up its own economic pressure on Moscow. On Friday, the European Commission proposed a fresh round of sanctions targeting Russia’s liquified natural gas (LNG) sector, banks, cryptocurrency platforms, and vessels associated with Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet." Zelenskyy welcomed these measures, stating, "It targets the key engines of the war economy: energy revenues, finance, high-tech inputs, and the military-industrial base. This is an important step that will intensify pressure on Russia’s war machine and have a tangible impact."
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain fraught with uncertainty. During a recent visit to the U.K., President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the situation in Ukraine, but stopped short of outlining a concrete path toward peace. Starmer remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions "are not the actions of someone who wants peace," referencing the growing intensity of Moscow’s attacks and allegations of NATO airspace violations. Trump, for his part, expressed disappointment in Putin, saying, "Putin has really let me down," alluding to the hope that his prior rapport with the Russian leader might have expedited an end to the war.
As the dust settles from this latest exchange, the toll on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure is clear, but so too is the country’s resolve. The targeting of Russian oil infrastructure signals a shift in Kyiv’s strategy—one that seeks to hit Russia where it hurts most: its wallet. With renewed calls for international support and the promise of additional sanctions from the West, the conflict appears set to enter an even more turbulent phase. For ordinary Ukrainians, the hope is that these measures will bring relief sooner rather than later, as the specter of war continues to loom over daily life.
The events of September 20, 2025, serve as a stark reminder of the war’s evolving front lines—both on the battlefield and in the global economic arena. As Ukraine and its allies weigh their next moves, the world watches, waiting to see if these latest blows will mark a turning point or simply another chapter in a conflict with no clear end in sight.