Kyiv, Jan 9 (NationPress) At least 13 individuals lost their lives and 63 others sustained injuries on Wednesday due to a Russian bombardment in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, according to a report from the Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office.
Guided munitions struck the city around 4 p.m. local time, causing damage to both industrial infrastructure and residential buildings, as reported by the regional governor of Zaporizhzhia, Ivan Fedorov.
Of those injured, four are reported to be in critical condition, Fedorov indicated.
The State Emergency Service noted that the attack impacted four administrative structures and 27 vehicles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the death toll of 13 and expressed condolences to the victims' families.
Zelensky shared a video on X showing injured civilians on the street receiving care from emergency responders, with firefighters attempting to control the blaze.
In his post, Zelensky stated, “The Russians targeted Zaporizhzhia with aerial munitions. This was a calculated strike against the city. Currently, dozens are reported injured, and all are receiving essential aid. Tragically, we confirm 13 fatalities.”
He added, “I extend my sympathies to their families and loved ones. Unfortunately, the casualty figures may rise. There is nothing more brutal than dropping aerial bombs on a city, fully aware that innocent civilians will be harmed. Russia must face consequences for its acts of terror. Protecting lives in Ukraine is imperative. Only through unity can we end such a war and achieve lasting peace.”
On the same day, the Ukraine Prosecutor General's Office reported that high-rise apartments, an industrial site, and other infrastructures were damaged in the assault.
It was also noted that debris from the strikes affected a tram and a bus carrying passengers, as per an Al Jazeera report.
Governor Fedorov stated that Russian forces launched guided bombs targeting a residential area, striking at least two apartment buildings during the afternoon.
This attack occurs as both Russia and Ukraine aim to demonstrate strength ahead of the upcoming inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Ukrainian military reported targeting a fuel depot in Russia, resulting in a fire at a facility supplying missiles to a Russian air base.
The General Staff of Ukraine indicated that the strike hit a storage site near Engels in Russia's Saratov region.
As Kyiv continues to face limitations in utilizing Western-supplied missiles, Ukraine has been enhancing its own long-range weaponry capable of reaching targets beyond its frontline.
Zelensky remarked earlier on Wednesday that nations wishing to conclude the conflict should provide Ukraine with guarantees regarding its future defense.
He stated, “Frankly, we deserve to demand substantial security assurances from countries committed to global peace.”
Zelensky made these comments during a press conference in Kyiv, responding to Trump's assertion of understanding Russia's opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership.
In a press conference at his estate in Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump mentioned, “Russia has someone right at their doorstep, and I can understand their sentiments about that.”
Zelensky noted that the US, Germany, and Slovakia have obstructed Ukraine's immediate accession to the NATO alliance.
