Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, has killed 13 and injured 113

A guided bomb strike by Russian forces on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 13 individuals and left 113 others injured in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, according to local authorities. The explosion scattered bodies across a roadway and caused injuries among residents. Public transportation systems also sustained damage from the attack.

On Thursday morning, prosecutors revised the number of injured from 63 to 113. Rescue operations at the attack site were concluded the previous evening.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office reported that high-rise residential buildings, an industrial facility, and other critical infrastructure were affected. Debris from the blast struck a tram and a bus carrying passengers, as noted in their Telegram update. Regional governor Ivan Fedorov informed reporters that Russian forces deployed two guided bombs targeting a residential area.

Fedorov indicated that out of the 60 individuals hospitalized following the incident, ten remain in critical condition, and he declared Thursday an official day of mourning.

In a statement to national television, he remarked that the city’s medical services had received the highest volume of assistance requests since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack on X, stating, “There is nothing more cruel than launching aerial bombs on a city, knowing that ordinary civilians will suffer,” and called on Ukraine’s Western allies to intensify their pressure on Russia.

Regional officials have confirmed additional explosions following the initial strike. Fedorov reported that Russian forces shelled the town of Stepnohirsk, located south of Zaporizhzhia, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Two residents were rescued alive from the debris.

Russia frequently conducts air strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is partially under its control. Moscow asserts that it has annexed this Ukrainian region along with four others, including Crimea.

Public broadcaster Suspilne also indicated that two people lost their lives and ten others were injured in attacks on various locations within the southern region of Kherson, which is similarly partially occupied by Russian troops.