Russian Strike Kills 15 in Zaporizhzhia

At least 15 people, including three children, have been killed after Russian glide bombs struck residential buildings in Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky and emergency services.

Rescue teams search destroyed buildings

The attack on Saturday morning injured at least 16 people, while others remained missing and were believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. Five glide bombs struck the city, damaging residential buildings and leaving an apartment block largely destroyed. Acting Mayor Regina Kharchenko said the ground floor of one building was hit, causing the floors above it to collapse. More than 80 rescue workers were involved in search and recovery operations, which were expected to continue throughout the day. Rescuers repeatedly paused to listen for signs of survivors beneath the debris. Kharchenko described the attack as a strike at the heart of the city, saying children were among those killed and that their deaths had brought immense grief to families and residents.

Zelensky vows a response

Zelensky said 13 other Ukrainian regions had also come under attack overnight, warning that Ukraine would respond to the Russian strikes. He said any easing of international pressure was being interpreted by Moscow as a signal that it could continue the war. Zelensky argued that Russia must face consequences for its attacks and called for the conflict to end. The Ukrainian president has also criticised US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal to import Russian diesel, describing it as a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin and an investment in prolonging the war.

Civilian casualties increase

The latest attack comes amid a rise in Russian strikes causing civilian deaths across Ukraine. On Thursday, at least 33 people were reportedly killed when glide bombs struck two civilian buses in Kramatorsk, in the eastern Donetsk region. A day earlier, a Russian missile hit an apartment block in Pryluky, east of Kyiv, killing 22 people, including five children. The United Nations reported that civilian casualties in Ukraine increased by 55 per cent during the first eight months of 2026.

Attacks continue on infrastructure

Zaporizhzhia, a major regional centre with more than 700,000 residents, lies less than 16 miles from the front line and is frequently targeted by Russian drones and missiles. Russia has also intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, particularly during winter, since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine has retaliated with strikes on Russian infrastructure, including data centres owned by technology company Yandex.