13 People Killed In Russian Strike In Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

At least 13 people died, and 63 others sustained injuries on Wednesday in a Russian airstrike on Ukraine’s southern city of Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed the toll.

Zaporizhzhia regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported that two guided bombs hit the city around 4 p.m. local time. The attack damaged industrial infrastructure and residential buildings. Four of the injured remain in critical condition, Fedorov added.

The State Service for Emergencies stated that the strike damaged four administrative buildings and 27 vehicles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He shared a video on X showing injured civilians being treated by emergency services and firefighters battling fires.

“Russians struck Zaporizhzhia with aerial bombs in a deliberate attack on the city,” Zelensky said. He confirmed 13 deaths and warned that the toll might rise.

He added, “There is nothing more cruel than bombing a city, knowing civilians will suffer. Russia must face pressure for its terror. Only strength can bring lasting peace.”

The Prosecutor General’s Office reported that the bombs damaged high-rise buildings, an industrial facility, and public transport. Debris struck a tram and a passenger-filled bus, according to an Al Jazeera report.

Governor Fedorov said Russian forces deliberately targeted residential areas during the afternoon. At least two residential buildings suffered direct hits.

Ukraine And Russia Ramp Up Strikes Amid Tensions

The airstrike comes as both nations aim to demonstrate power ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration. Earlier Wednesday, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a fire at a Russian fuel depot near Engels in Saratov, which supplies missiles to a Russian airbase.

Ukraine has developed long-range weapons to strike targets behind enemy lines, bypassing restrictions on Western-supplied missiles.

During a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky demanded security guarantees from nations seeking to end the war. Responding to Trump’s remarks that he understood Russia’s opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, Zelensky stressed the need for stronger defense assurances.

Zelensky noted that the US, Germany, and Slovakia have delayed Ukraine’s immediate entry into NATO, leaving the country vulnerable.

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