Russia launched more than 600 drones and missiles at Ukraine in a "massive" attack aimed at infrastructure, residential areas and civilians, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Russia's "massive" attack across Ukraine overnight Friday hit civilians and infrastructure, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo from Volodymyr Zelensky/X UPI

Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Russia launched more than 600 drones and missiles across Ukraine in a "massive" attack overnight Friday aimed at infrastructure, residential areas and civilians, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Zelensky, in a post on X, said that Russia fired 40 missiles, including cruise and ballistic, and about 580 drones of various types that struck, killing three people and injuring at least 30.

"All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia," Zelensky posted. "I thank all our warriors who defended the skies throughout the night, and our F-16 pilots, who once again proved their prowess today and effectively countered the cruise missile threat against Ukraine."

He said the strikes targeted the Dnipro region, as well as Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia regions, and communities in Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions.

"The enemy aimed at our infrastructure, residential areas, and civilian enterprises," Zelensky wrote. "In Dnipro, a missile with cluster munitions directly struck an apartment building."

He added that "every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorize civilians and destroy our infrastructure" and continued to press for additional assistance from the international community.

"That is why a strong international response is needed," Zelensky said. "Ukraine has proven it can defend itself and Europe, but for a reliable shield, we must act together: strengthen air defense, increase weapons supplies, and expand sanctions against Russia's military machine and the sectors that finance it. Every restriction on Russia saves lives. I thank everyone who helps and supports us."

Ukraine's State Emergency Services also posted images of the attacks.

On Saturday, Russia confirmed the military "launched a massive strike using long-range air- and ground-based precision weapons and attack drones against Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises developing the Sapsan tactical missile system, producing multipurpose strike and reconnaissance drones, robotic combat vehicles, interceptor UAVs, and loitering munitions."

For one week threough Friday, Russian air defense systems shot down 1,667 fixed-wing drones, four guided bombs, and four HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, TASS reported. Four settlements were liberated over the past week, including Novonikolayevka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and Olgovskoye in the Zaporozhye Region, the military said.

Around 10,000 Ukrainian troops were lost, the Defense Ministry reported. Ukraine did not list casualty figures.

Though Zelensky said most of the missiles and drones were repelled, Russia said "the strike's objectives were achieved" and "all designated targets were hit."

As U.S. President Donald Trump works for an end to the war that started with Russia's invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, long-range strikes have continued to be launched between the two countries.

Trump has become increasingly dissatisfied with Russian President Vladimir Putin since they met in Alaska on Aug. 15, and cited progress toward peace, although a one-on-one meeting with Putin and Zelensky has yet to take place.

Zelensky said Saturday that he planned to meet Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York.

Zelensky has sought expanded sanctions and tariffs against Russia.

"And if the world does not deliver a truly tangible response to Russia's prolonging of the war, if sanctions and tariffs are postponed, if the Russian army can already launch drones with impunity even against Poland -- Putin will continue to see it as permission to wage war," Zelenskyy said.

Russia confirmed strikes within its borders.

Samara regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said four people died "as a result of an overnight attack by enemy drones" and another person was injured.

Ukraine's military said drones struck the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara region in southeastern Russia. Also, the Saratov oil refinery was hit overnight in the neighbouring region.

After a "huge" number of drones went into Poland last week, NATO responded by launching Operation Eastern Sentry to enhance protection for its allies.

On Saturday, Zaporozhye Region Gov. Yevgeny Balitsky warned about the consequences of a Ukrainian strike on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which is in southeastern Ukraine and currently occupied by Russian forces. It is the largest plant in Europe.

"Imagine what happens if one of those strikes hits the reactor or a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel," Balitsky wrote on Telegram. "A radioactive disaster would affect not only the Zaporozhye Region or Russia, but also the whole of Europe! But the Kiev regime does not care a damn. They could risk the future of the entire planet for the sake of their political ambitions."

He said Russia and ZNPP employees are making every effort to protect the nuclear facility.