Russia launches sweeping attack on Southern Ukraine — two days after deadly barrage on Kyiv

A massive Russian aerial attack blasted the frontline regions in southern Ukraine Saturday, killing at least one civilian — just two days after one of Moscow’s largest strikes on Kiyv.

The overnight assault also wounded at least 30 others — three children were hurt — after explosions were heard in multiple cities in the Zaporizhzhia region, one of the territories partially occupied by Russia, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said.

The Kremlin launched 537 Shahed-type drones and decoys, eight North Korean ballistic missiles and 37 cruise missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Ukraine’s army managed to intercept most of the airstrikes, but five missiles and 24 drones made it through their defense systems striking residential buildings and sparking immense blazes.

The heavy attacks come after a deadly airstrike Thursday on central Kyiv that was the second largest of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It killed 25 people, including four children, and damaged EU diplomatic offices — with European leaders accusing Putin of “sabotaging peace.” 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Moscow’s “absolute disregard for words” and called for further sanctions Saturday.

“There were two large-scale attacks by Russia this week — absolutely brazen actions, through which Russia is demonstrating that without pressure from the world, there will be no end to the war,” Zelensky warned on X. “Putin is only duping leaders and drawing them into his camp. And he is staving off the threat of sanctions.

“Nothing else interests him. It is important that together we press Russia into ending this war.”