Tragic Attack in Zaporizhia Leaves 13 Dead and Over 100 Injured
In a devastating military strike, the city of Zaporizhia has become the target of one of the most severe attacks on civilians in recent months, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and 113 injuries, with 10 individuals reported in critical condition, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Regional Military Administration.
The assault occurred on Wednesday when two guided air bombs detonated amidst a crowded avenue in the city center, which serves as the capital of the region. Medical assistance has been provided to the injured, including a 13-year-old girl, with 59 patients remaining hospitalized.
This recent incident marks the second attack on Zaporizhia in just a month, following a previous assault that claimed 21 lives. The bombs fell during daylight hours, causing chaos as streets were filled with pedestrians and vehicles, leading to the ignition of three cars. Rescue teams also reported extinguishing a fire in an administrative building covering 800 square meters, with additional damage reported to two other administrative buildings, a residential skyscraper, and 36 vehicles, including a tram and a minibus.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the bombing as a direct assault on civilians, describing it as a calculated act by the Russian military that underscores their intent for continued warfare and suffering.
According to the latest United Nations report, over 12,300 civilians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict since Russia's invasion nearly three years ago. Nada Al Nashif, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted a concerning rise in civilian casualties since September, attributed largely to the increased use of drones, long-range missiles, and guided bombs.
Al Nashif expressed deep concern over the humanitarian impact of intensified military operations by Russian forces, especially in frontline regions such as Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia. The use of highly destructive guided bombs in residential areas, as evidenced in the recent Zaporizhia attack, raises significant alarm regarding the safety of civilians.
Prior to the large-scale invasion, Zaporizhia had a population of approximately 710,000 and has frequently endured bombardments as Russian forces strive to gain control over this strategically vital region, which houses the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and serves as a crucial corridor to the Sea of Azov.
Most of the Zaporizhia province remains under Russian occupation, including the coastal areas, since Moscow's unilateral annexation on September 30, 2022, alongside Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson. However, the city of Zaporizhia itself continues to operate under Ukrainian administration.
In a broader context, from Tuesday to Thursday morning, Russian forces launched an attack involving 70 Shahed-type drones, of which 46 were intercepted, according to the Ministry of Defense. The remaining drones included decoys that went off the radar. These attacks targeted various regions, including Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv, resulting in damage to multiple residences in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Cherkasy due to falling debris from downed drones.
