Russian forces carried out a large-scale drone assault on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia late on Tuesday, causing fires, injuring 12 individuals, and causing extensive damage to buildings and vehicles, as confirmed by the regional governor.
Ivan Fedorov, communicating through the Telegram messaging app, reported that the attack resulted in the destruction of cars, shops, and seven apartment buildings. He mentioned that 12 people were currently receiving medical treatment at hospitals.
In an online video message, Fedorov stated, “A coordinated rescue operation is underway at 12 different locations with significant deployment from the State Emergency Services, national police, and medical teams.”
Visuals shared online depicted firefighters battling flames at high-rise residential structures and charred vehicles on the city’s streets. Emergency responders, updating on Telegram, indicated that the fires were being brought under control, and rescue efforts were ongoing.
The Zaporizhzhia region, where Russian forces hold significant territory, including recent advances, witnessed part of the drone attack. However, the city itself remains under Ukrainian control.
Yevgeny Belitsky, the Russia-appointed authority in the Russian-controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia region, mentioned that Ukrainian forces had targeted power grid infrastructure in those areas. According to Belitsky’s Telegram post, around 40,000 customers in Russian-held towns experienced power outages as a result.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since Russia initiated a full-scale invasion in February 2022, plunging both countries into a prolonged state of war. The utilization of drones by both sides has become prevalent, necessitating adaptations to counter the evolving threats posed by hostile drone activities in the conflict zone.