Moscow shot down more than 100 Ukrainian drones Sunday, sparking multiple fires during one of Ukraine’s largest barrages aimed at Russia since the war began.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense estimated that 125 drones were struck across seven regions overnight, with 17 intercepted as they flew over the Voronezh region.
The resulting wreckage crashed into an apartment block and a private home, causing fires to break out, regional Gov. Aleskandr Gusev said.
Firefighters battle a blaze after Russia attacked Zaporizhzhia with guided bombs overnight in Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. AP
Falling debris and destroyed drones damaged apartment buildings and started a wildfire. APAnother 18 drones were shot down in the Rostov region, with the debris in that exchange causing a wildfire, Gov. Vasily Golubev added.
No casualties were reported in either incident, with first responders able to extinguish both fires.
The Ukrainian attack came as the Kremlin launched its own assault on Ukraine’s southern city of Zaporizhzhia, where Kyiv had warned that Russia would be launching a new offensive.
The city was hit with Russian guide bombs in 10 separate attacks overnight, damaging a high-rise building and several residential homes that were occupied at the time.
Regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said emergency workers were currently helping rescue those trapped beneath the rubble. At least 13 people were wounded in the attack, officials said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed the attack on the southern city, noting that the Russian bombs also damaged Zaporizhzhia’s transportation hub.
“This week alone, the Russian army has used nearly 900 aerial bombs, over 300 “Shahed” drones, and more than 40 missiles,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“This Russian terror knows no pause, and it can only be stopped by the unity of the world — unity in supporting Ukraine and unity in putting pressure on Russia for the war,” he added.
The Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia was hit especially hard by Russia. APVladyslav Voloshyn, a rep for Ukraine’s southern military command, said the attack on the city came as Russia was amassing troops to invade it.
Along with the attack on Zaporizhzhia, the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 15 of the 22 Russian drones targeting the country’s Sumy, Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, and Odessa regions.
With Post wires
