Russian Strikes Across Ukraine Kill Nine, Injure Dozens

Russian air strikes across multiple Ukrainian regions killed at least nine people and injured dozens on Saturday, damaging homes, businesses and critical infrastructure as attacks intensified away from the front lines.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia launched nearly 500 drones at targets across Ukraine from early Saturday. He accused Moscow of expanding its campaign against the Ukrainian economy by targeting infrastructure needed by civilians during the war.

In Kramatorsk, authorities said attacks on private vehicles killed three people and injured four within 90 minutes. Officials stressed that the vehicles were civilian targets.

Two people were killed when a strike hit a grocery store in Zvyahel in the Zhytomyr region, Governor Vitaliy Bunechko said. Two petrol stations and a foreign-invested enterprise were also targeted.

Zaporizhzhia regional authorities reported two deaths and 11 injuries, while two more people were killed in drone and missile attacks on Kryvyi Rih. Russia’s military said it targeted industrial facilities, including Zaporizhstal in Zaporizhzhia, Interpipe Steel in Dnipro and plants in Kryvyi Rih.

In Odesa, nearly 40 people were injured as attacks continued from overnight into Saturday evening. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces also struck cargo vessels at Odesa and Chornomorsk, alleging they were carrying goods intended for military purposes. Reuters could not independently verify claims from either side.

The escalation also affected neighboring Moldova, which temporarily closed its airspace after detecting a drone near the Ukrainian border. Seven border crossings were briefly shut.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said its forces struck the Togliattikauchuk synthetic rubber plant in Russia’s Samara region, triggering a fire. Kyiv said the facility produces synthetic rubber and fuel additives used in Russian missile fuel.

Russian officials confirmed Ukrainian drone attacks on industrial facilities in the Samara region. Togliatti Mayor Ilya Sukhikh said several residential buildings were damaged and one person was injured.

The latest exchanges come as both Russia and Ukraine increasingly target energy facilities, industrial sites, ports and shipping infrastructure far from the main battlefield.