Russia has attacked the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia with five glide bombs, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people, including four children, according to local officials. The attack occurred on Saturday morning, targeting residential buildings in the southern city. At least 32 others were reported injured, and some individuals are still believed to be trapped under the rubble of the destroyed apartment building.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attacks were Russia's way of expressing "its thanks" for a deal announced by US President Donald Trump that eased sanctions on Moscow for importing Russian diesel. Zelensky noted that 13 other regions in Ukraine were also attacked overnight, suggesting that Russia interprets any easing of pressure as a signal to continue its military actions.
Photos and videos from the site of the strikes show significant destruction of an apartment block. Acting Mayor Regina Harchenko reported that the ground floor was hit, causing the upper floors to collapse. She mentioned that over 80 workers are involved in ongoing search and rescue operations, which are expected to continue throughout the day as rescuers listen for any signs of survivors.
Harchenko expressed that Russia had struck at "our very heart" and that the deaths of children represent "awful grief for their families and for the city." Zaporizhzhia, a major regional center with over 700,000 residents, is located less than 10 miles (16 km) from the front line and has frequently been targeted by Russian drones and missiles.
In a related context, Zelensky criticized Trump's diesel deal with Russia, labeling it a gift to President Vladimir Putin. Analysts suggest the deal is an attempt by the US president to address domestic concerns regarding high fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections. Zelensky stated that Russian attacks on energy facilities in Kyiv reveal Russia's true intentions, emphasizing that Russia's choice is war and that they will only be ready to end it when they feel their capacity to prolong the conflict is diminishing.
Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on infrastructure in recent months, as the full-scale invasion launched by Moscow in 2022 continues. On Thursday, another Russian glide bomb attack on two civilian buses in Kramatorsk resulted in at least 33 deaths. The day prior, a missile strike on an apartment block in Pryluky, east of Kyiv, killed 22 people, including five children. According to the UN, civilian casualties in Ukraine increased by 55% in the first eight months of this year.
As winter approaches, Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, a strategy it has employed in previous years. Kyiv has accused Moscow of targeting civilians, a claim that Russia denies. In response, Ukraine has increasingly targeted infrastructure deep within Russia that is vital to its economy, including oil refineries and terminals. Recent strikes on data centers owned by Yandex have disrupted the tech company's services, with Kyiv asserting that these actions aim to limit revenue streams for Russia's military efforts.