In a dramatic and escalating conflict, Russia unleashed a massive missile and drone barrage across Ukraine on Saturday, resulting in at least three fatalities and injuring dozens more.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a staggering launch of over 600 drones and missiles targeting nine regions nationwide, including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv.

Zelenskyy highlighted the chilling intent behind the strikes, stating, "The enemy focused on our infrastructure, residential buildings, and civilian enterprises," emphasizing the devastating impact of a cluster munition missile that struck a high-rise in Dnipro.

He condemned these attacks as calculated acts of terror rather than military necessity, aimed at demoralizing the civilian population and crippling critical infrastructure.

In the Chernihiv district, local reports confirmed one death and eight injuries, including three individuals wounded when a drone hit their vehicle. Tragically, three medics on-site were also injured in a subsequent strike. All six victims were rushed to medical facilities.

Dnipropetrovsk also bore the brunt of the assault, with at least 30 reported injuries. Governor Serhii Lysak noted extensive damage to homes and high-rise buildings in Dnipro.

Ukraine's Air Force responded robustly, successfully intercepting 552 drones along with two ballistic missiles and 29 cruise missiles out of the 619 launched by Russia, showcasing resilience in the face of relentless aggression.

Kyiv's Strategic Strikes on Russian Oil Infrastructure

Simultaneously, Ukraine has not backed down in its offensive against Russia's oil sector, successfully targeting two oil refineries in Saratov and Samara. The Saratovsky refinery is particularly significant, accounting for around 2.54% of Russia's total refining capacity.

In a statement, Ukraine’s General Staff emphasized the importance of these facilities, declaring, "All targeted establishments are vital for supplying the Russian Armed Forces." The attack on Samara also targeted crucial transport infrastructure, aiming to disrupt the logistics supporting Russia's military efforts.

This aggressive move is part of Kyiv's broader strategy to dismantle the economic backbone of Russia's war machine, which Zelenskyy identifies as being heavily funded by oil and gas revenues.

In a related development, the European Commission proposed a new wave of sanctions against Russia, focusing on liquefied natural gas (LNG), financial institutions, cryptocurrency platforms, and Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet."

Zelenskyy praised these additional sanctions as essential measures to cripple Russia’s war economy, stating, "These sanctions target crucial engines like energy revenue and military production, heightening pressure on Russia’s war efforts significantly."