Ukraine faced one of the largest aerial assaults of the war as Russia launched more than 500 drones and 45 missiles in an overnight attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Saturday.

The strike, which targeted multiple regions, came just two days after a rare Russian airstrike on central Kyiv killed 23 people and damaged European Union diplomatic offices—further underscoring the deepening crisis as U.S.-led peace efforts struggle in the war’s third year.

In southern Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia region was among the hardest hit. A five-story residential building was struck, killing at least one civilian and wounding 28 others, including children, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia deployed 537 strike drones and decoys in the operation, alongside waves of missile barrages. While many were intercepted, officials say the scale of the assault reflects Moscow’s ongoing attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and inflict psychological pressure on the civilian population.

Zelenskyy strongly condemned the attacks, calling them proof that Russia is intent on escalating the conflict rather than seeking peace. International observers warn that the relentless bombardment could not only worsen Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis but also further destabilize European security as diplomatic negotiations falter.