KYIV, Ukraine — Russian drones struck the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday, a day after Ukrainian forces launched more than 1,000 drones toward Russia, according to officials.

The latest attacks highlighted the continuing intensity of the war and the lack of significant progress in diplomatic efforts to end the fighting more than four years after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The attacks came as world leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during the annual gathering, while Russian President Vladimir Putin was not expected to attend.

Trump described the war as “ridiculous” on Monday and said Russia had “unfortunately lost control” of its diesel oil production as Ukrainian forces continued targeting Russian refineries with long-range drones.

Trump said a large number of Russian diesel refineries had been damaged and were at least temporarily out of operation. Earlier this month, he had urged Zelenskyy to stop the refinery attacks, arguing that they were contributing to global shortages and higher prices.

Zelenskyy responded by saying Ukraine had presented numerous diplomatic proposals aimed at ending the war while protecting the country’s security and preventing future Russian invasions.

He also said Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, critical facilities and food exports should no longer be targeted by Russia, adding that Kyiv would be prepared to take corresponding de-escalation measures.

European leaders have continued calling for greater pressure on Moscow, amid concerns about Russia’s intentions in Europe. However, Putin has given no indication that he is prepared to abandon his objectives in Ukraine.

The Russian bombardment of Zaporizhzhia late Sunday struck apartment buildings, a university and a shopping mall, among other locations, and wounded five people, according to Zelenskyy.

He said Russia also attacked nine other Ukrainian regions.

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian drone struck a home Monday, killing a 45-year-old woman and seriously injuring her 13-year-old son, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported.

“Russia is not backing down from its escalation and is sending many signals that it is ready to expand the war,” Zelenskyy said. He added that the United Nations General Assembly would provide an opportunity to discuss how peace could be achieved through international cooperation.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had targeted Ukrainian logistics hubs, warehouses and ports, along with other military-related facilities.

The Russian attacks followed a massive Ukrainian drone operation against Russia from Saturday into Sunday. Hundreds of drones were reportedly directed toward Moscow as Russians participated in the third and final day of a tightly controlled parliamentary election.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses had destroyed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Black Sea overnight.

Ukraine’s air force, meanwhile, said it had shot down or electronically suppressed 148 Russian drones during an overnight Russian attack.

The exchange of long-range drone attacks has also raised concerns in neighboring countries, where drones and debris have repeatedly crossed borders during the conflict.

Moldova’s Defense Ministry said part of the country’s northern airspace was temporarily closed overnight Monday after surveillance systems detected an unidentified aerial object entering Moldovan airspace shortly after midnight.

Moldovan authorities have reported several airspace violations in recent weeks and have discovered drone debris inside the country. Because electronic interference can cause drones to deviate from their intended routes, officials said it was not immediately clear whether the objects were Russian or Ukrainian, although Moscow has frequently been blamed for such incidents.

Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, she said the war was increasingly affecting Moldova’s border region following Russian attacks near the frontier.

Romania has also reported a significant increase in drone incursions into its airspace as the aerial conflict continues.

The latest attacks came as international leaders gathered at the United Nations with renewed calls for diplomacy, but the continued exchange of large-scale drone strikes showed that the fighting remained intense.

SOURCE: Associated Press (AP), Samya Kullab, updated September 24, 2026.