Russia struck the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia with five glide bombs on Saturday morning, killing at least 15 people, among them three children, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky and emergency services. The munitions hit residential buildings in the south-eastern city. At least 16 others were injured, and more people are still missing and believed to be trapped under debris.
The attack came only hours after President Donald Trump announced a deal to import Russian diesel into the United States. Zelensky said 13 other regions were also hit overnight, and he warned that Ukraine’s response to the strikes would follow.
Rescue teams search a collapsed Zaporizhzhia apartment block
Photos and videos from one of the sites show an apartment block that has been largely destroyed. Acting Mayor Regina Kharchenko, speaking from the scene to Ukrainian television, said the ground floor had been hit and the storeys above had given way entirely. She added that more than 80 workers were taking part in search and rescue efforts, which were expected to continue throughout the day.
Rescuers regularly pause their work to listen for sounds that might indicate survivors beneath the rubble. Kharchenko said Russia had struck the heart of the city and that the youngest residents were among those killed. She described the deaths as a deep loss for the families involved and for the whole city.
Zelensky criticises diesel deal as Russian strikes escalate
Zelensky has strongly condemned the diesel agreement with Russia, describing it as a benefit handed to President Vladimir Putin and a form of backing for a conflict that should end rather than drag on. In a post on X, he argued that Moscow interprets any easing of pressure as a green light to keep fighting. He insisted that Russia must feel the cost of its losses before the war can be halted.
Both Russia and Ukraine have increased attacks on infrastructure in recent months as the war continues. Ukraine’s most recent strikes targeted data centres owned by the technology company Yandex.
Zaporizhzhia and wider Ukraine face rising civilian deaths
Zaporizhzhia is a major regional hub with more than 700,000 residents and lies less than 10 miles (16 km) from the front line. The city is frequently struck by Russian drones and missiles. The latest attack is part of a sharp rise in Russian strikes that are causing growing numbers of civilian casualties.
On Thursday, at least 33 people were killed when a Russian glide bomb hit two civilian buses in Kramatorsk, in the eastern Donetsk region. The day before, 22 people, including five children, died when a Russian missile struck an apartment block in Pryluky, east of Kyiv. The United Nations said civilian casualties in Ukraine rose by 55% during the first eight months of this year.
Russia has also targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, stepping up such attacks every winter since Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022.
