RUSSIA hit six regions of Ukraine with a massive air attack today, Ukrainian officials said.

The night-time assault reportedly killed three emergency responders in the capital Kiev.

The barrage included ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as a mix of strike drones and decoys, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

Ukrainian forces claimed they shot down about 30 of the cruise missiles and up to 200 of the drones.

Ukrainian cities have come under regular bombardment since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022. The attacks have killed more than 12,000 civilians, according to the United Nations.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said that three emergency workers were killed in Kiev while responding to the Russian strikes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a phone call with United States President Donald Trump earlier this week that he would respond to what he has described as Ukraine’s “act of terrorism” on Russian air bases on Sunday.

Leading Russian lawmaker Andrey Klischas wrote on his Telegram channel that “Zelensky’s regime bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist organisation and its official designation as such is merely a matter of time.”

The latest Russian attack came hours after President Donald Trump said that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace.

Russia also reported that it had been hit by Ukrainian drone attacks.

Russian air defences shot down 10 Ukrainian drones heading toward the capital early today, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Flights at Moscow airports were temporarily suspended as a precaution.

Ukrainian drones also targeted three other regions of Russia, authorities said, damaging apartment buildings and industrial plants.

Three people were injured, officials said.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said that air defences downed 174 Ukrainian drones over 13 regions early today. It said that three Ukrainian Neptune missiles were also shot down over the Black Sea.