Russian drones slam Ukrainian city after Kyiv’s 1,000-drone weekend barrage

A rescue worker puts out a fire at the Intrade trade center after a Russian drone strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Monday, September 21. Picture: Kateryna Klochko/AP Photo.

Russian drones have blasted Ukraine’s southern city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after Kyiv’s forces fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia, officials said.

The war’s relentless daily attacks underscore the absence of any significant progress in diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting, more than four years after Russia invaded its neighbour.

There is no sign the war is abating as world leaders gather this week at the UN General Assembly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects to meet with US President Donald Trump at the annual event in New York.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not due to attend.

Mr Trump on Monday called the war “ridiculous” and said Moscow had “unfortunately lost control” of its diesel oil production as Ukraine targets Russian refineries with long-range drones.

“A large number of (Russian) diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission,” he said in a social media post.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump urged Mr Zelensky to halt the refinery strikes, saying the attacks are causing a global shortage and price spikes.

European leaders, fearing Moscow has malicious intentions on their continent, are keen to put further pressure on Mr Putin to withdraw from Ukraine, but the Russian leader has given no indication he is ready to give up his goals.

The Russian bombardment of Zaporizhzhia late on Sunday hit apartment blocks, a university and a shopping centre, among other sites, and wounded five people, Mr Zelensky said on social media on Monday.

Russia also struck nine other regions of Ukraine, he said.

“Russia is not backing down from its escalation and is sending many signals that it is ready to expand the war,” Mr Zelensky said.

“At the UN General Assembly, we will discuss how we can achieve peace through joint efforts.” The Russian military overnight targeted Ukrainian logistics hubs, warehouses and ports, among other military-related sites, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The attacks came after Ukraine launched a huge swarm of drones at Russia from Saturday to Sunday, including hundreds aimed at Moscow, as voters turned out for the third and last day of a carefully orchestrated parliamentary election.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday that its air defences overnight downed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the waters of the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said on Monday it shot down or suppressed 148 Russian drones in an overnight attack.

During the aerial barrages, drones have repeatedly strayed into neighbouring countries, unnerving leaders who are wary of Russia and fear being dragged into conflict.

Moldova’s Ministry of Defence said on Monday that part of the country’s airspace in the north was temporarily closed overnight after surveillance systems detected an “aerial object” entering its national airspace shortly after midnight.

In recent weeks, Moldova’s airspace has been violated multiple times, and drone debris has been found on its territory.

With electronic jamming knocking drones off course, it was not clear whether the drones were Russian or Ukrainian, though officials have often singled out Moscow for blame.

Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has repeatedly condemned Russia for its war on Ukraine, and earlier this month said Moscow’s “brutal war is reaching our border” following Russian strikes along Moldova’s frontier with Ukraine.

Drone incursions into Romania’s airspace have also increased significantly.