A Russian missile strike targeted the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, leaving at least eight people dead and 22 injured, including a child, local authorities reported. The attack hit a private clinic and residential buildings in the city center, with officials fearing the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue.
Two women were rescued from the rubble overnight and are receiving treatment in hospital. Police believe as many as five individuals may still be trapped under the debris. Regional head Ivan Fedorov identified the weapon as a likely Iskander ballistic missile, though the Russian defense ministry has not issued a statement.
By Wednesday, the number of fatalities had climbed as one of the injured succumbed in the hospital, and another victim’s body was found in the wreckage. A day of mourning has been declared in the region. Expressing grief, Fedorov vowed that Russia would be held accountable for every life lost.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for advanced air defense systems from Western allies to counter near-daily missile and drone attacks. “Air defense systems should save lives, not gather dust in warehouses,” Zelensky emphasized.
In a separate incident, a convoy of UN nuclear watchdog experts traveling to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was reportedly attacked by drones, with both Ukraine and Russia trading blame. The International Atomic Energy Agency condemned the attack, highlighting the dangers of operating in a conflict zone.
Zaporizhzhia, annexed by Russia in 2022, remains a contentious area amid ongoing hostilities.