In this photo provided by the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, rescuers work on the site of a house destroyed by a Russian strike on a residential neighbourhood in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
Russian forces unleashed a heavy rocket attack on Zaporizhzhia overnight, wounding 20 people, including four children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault and renewed his call for a unified European air defense system.
The latest strike adds to the relentless bombardment that has defined Russia’s invasion for more than three and a half years. Despite international efforts, the conflict shows no signs of resolution.
Ongoing Russian Strikes Across Ukraine
Russia continues to target Ukraine’s civilian areas while pressing along a 1,000-kilometer front line. According to Zelenskyy, the past two weeks alone saw over 3,500 drones, 2,500 glide bombs, and nearly 200 missiles launched against Ukraine.
Glide bombs pose a particularly severe challenge. Dropped from high altitude, they leave massive craters despite lacking precision. Ukraine currently has no effective defense against them. Drone swarms also strain Ukraine’s limited resources and recently even entered Polish territory, raising NATO’s concerns and prompting stronger European air defense measures.
Zelenskyy’s Push for European Unity
Zelenskyy urged European leaders to act decisively.
“Now is the time to implement joint protection of our European skies with a multilayered air defense system,” he wrote on Telegram. He emphasized that the necessary technologies already exist. What is required, he said, is investment, political will, and coordinated action.
His message reflects growing urgency as Russia expands its attacks. NATO has already stepped up defenses, but Zelenskyy insists a broader, continent-wide strategy is critical.
Trump’s Remarks on the War
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in before his state visit to the United Kingdom. Speaking to reporters, Trump said Zelenskyy “is going to have to make a deal” to end the war. He offered no specifics but repeated his view that Europe must stop importing Russian oil.
According to Trump, halting crude purchases and imposing heavy tariffs on China could force Moscow to reconsider its war strategy. His comments highlight ongoing divisions over how best to pressure Russia while supporting Ukraine.
Civilian Areas Take the Brunt
The Russian barrage on Zaporizhzhia damaged more than 20 apartment buildings and ignited multiple fires, regional head Ivan Fedorov said on national television.
“We were still repairing buildings hit on Aug. 30. Now the enemy has added even more destruction,” he said.
Elsewhere, Russia struck a logistics hub near Kyiv. In Kharkiv, a drone attack wounded four people and damaged the National Pharmaceutical University. Videos shared by Zelenskyy showed the moment of impact.
Economic Sanctions and Retaliatory Strikes
Zelenskyy again appealed for tougher sanctions on Moscow. He argued that Russia’s aggression continues only because it does not feel enough economic pain. Stronger penalties, he said, would force Russia toward serious negotiations.
Ukraine has also intensified its own strikes deep inside Russia. Using long-range drones, it has hit oil refineries, storage depots, and transport hubs. These attacks disrupted Russia’s energy sector, causing recent gasoline shortages despite its position as the world’s second-largest oil exporter.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that its forces targeted an oil refinery in Russia’s Saratov region overnight. Explosions and a fire were reported at the facility, signaling another blow to Russia’s war resources.
The Road Ahead
As the war drags on, Zelenskyy’s call for a European air defense system underscores the urgency of collective security. With Russia escalating its assaults and Ukraine striking back at critical infrastructure, the conflict remains locked in a destructive cycle.
For millions of Ukrainians, the strikes are a daily reminder that peace is still distant. Yet for Zelenskyy, European unity and stronger defenses may offer the only path to shifting the balance.
