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 significant damage to structures and vehicles, as stated by the regional governor.
In a post on the Telegram messaging platform, Ivan Fedorov mentioned that the attack resulted in crushed cars, demolished shops, and the destruction of seven residential buildings. He reported that 12 people were receiving medical treatment in hospitals.
Fedorov, in an online video, indicated, “A rescue mission is currently active at 12 sites. The maximum number of units from the State Emergency Services, national police, and our medical teams have been deployed.”
Images shared online depicted firefighters battling blazes at tall apartment buildings and charred vehicles on the city’s streets.
Emergency services, communicating via Telegram, confirmed that they were getting the fires under control and proceeding with rescue efforts.
A segment of the broader area is under Russian control, with Russian forces occupying significant portions of land in the Zaporizhzhia region and making recent advancements, while the city itself remains under Ukrainian authority.
The Russia-appointed leader of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Belitsky, stated that Ukrainian forces had targeted power grid facilities in areas controlled by Russia. According to Belitsky’s Telegram post, power supply had been disrupted for 40,000 customers in Russian-controlled towns within the region.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has left the two nations in a state of ongoing conflict. Both Ukraine and Russia have adapted to the changing battlefield dynamics and evolving drone threats, with drones being extensively used by both sides during the conflict.