Russian Attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Injures 26, Governor Says
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — Dec 17 (GeokHub) At least 26 people were wounded, including a child, when Russian forces struck the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday, regional authorities said, highlighting the ongoing toll of the conflict more than three years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion began.
The assault, described by local officials as a series of guided aerial bomb and glide bomb attacks, hit residential areas, infrastructure and an educational facility in and around the regional capital, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov. Emergency crews were clearing debris and searching for potential survivors as of Wednesday afternoon.
Summary
- Russian strikes wounded at least 26 people in Zaporizhzhia, including a child.
- Residential buildings, infrastructure and a school were damaged.
- Zaporizhzhia lies close to the frontlines and has been repeatedly targeted since the 2022 invasion.
- The assault reflects ongoing Russian efforts to pressure Ukraine militarily as broader war dynamics continue.
Details of the Attack
Governor Fedorov said the strikes involved guided aerial munitions, including glide bombs, which hit at least two residential blocks and other civilian infrastructure in the city’s urban and outskirts areas. Children and adults were among the wounded, he added in public statements on social media.
Rescue teams from Ukraine’s state emergency services were clearing rubble and providing aid to those injured, while local hospitals treated victims throughout the day. The scale of damage to housing and public facilities underscored the risks faced by civilians in frontline regions.
Zaporizhzhia — a city and region of strategic importance in southeastern Ukraine — has seen repeated bombardments since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Positioned less than 25 km from active combat zones, it has been targeted frequently by Russian long-range weapons and drone strikes.
Wider Conflict Context
The latest attack comes as the war continues to shape European security dynamics. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated this week that Moscow intends to press its military objectives in Ukraine while dismissing Western warnings about escalation risks, underscoring persistent hostilities in the region.
Elsewhere on the front, Ukrainian forces have been reporting tactical gains, including claims of significant control over the town of Kupiansk in the northeast — assertions denied by Russian officials — reflecting the fluid and contested nature of the battlefield.
