KYIV: At least 13 people were injured on Sunday in a series of Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, emergency services said.
The strikes, described as “massive,” occurred at dawn and targeted various neighborhoods in the regional capital, causing significant destruction, Ukrainian emergency services said in a statement.
Emergency services reported that a multi-story building and six houses were severely damaged, prompting a response from 42 emergency personnel who worked to rescue those potentially trapped under the rubble. Among the wounded, a woman was pulled from the debris and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Regional governor Ivan Fedorov initially reported six injuries but later updated the toll to 13 as rescue operations continued. The strikes reportedly involved ten separate attacks, which also damaged a train station in the city, further disrupting civilian life.
In the eastern Donetsk region, the violence continued as regional governor Vadym Filashkin confirmed that Russian strikes on Pokrovsk resulted in three fatalities and left another person injured. This area has been a logistical hub for Ukraine and has faced ongoing bombardment from Russian forces for several weeks.
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Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed the capture of the village of Makiivka in the Lugansk region. Ukrainian authorities noted that this settlement had been evacuated in late July.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, condemned the attacks, calling them an attempt to “terrorise” the civilian population. He reiterated the need for increased military support from Western allies, including advanced weaponry capable of intercepting Russian missiles, and called for more economic sanctions against Moscow to address its ongoing aggression.
While Russia annexed the Zaporizhzhia region in 2022, the city of Zaporizhzhia remains under Ukrainian control.