At least 17 people have been killed and dozens have been injured by Russian missile strikes in the South-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia
At least 17 people have been killed and dozens have been injured by Russian missile strikes in the South-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia.
Several residential buildings have also been destroyed. Although the city is under Ukrainian control, it is part of a region that Russia says it annexed last month.
Zaporizhzhia has been hit repeatedly in recent weeks. Some parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, including its nuclear power plant, which is around 52 kms (30 miles) from the city, have been under Russian control since early invasion.
The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelensky called the shelling “merciless strikes on peaceful people again.”
Zelenskyy said, “Absolute meanness. Absolute evil. Savages and terrorists. From the one who gave this order to everyone who fulfilled this order. They will bear responsibility. For sure. Before the law and before people.”
The Ukrainian Regional Governor of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia – Oleksandr Starukh said 12 Russian missiles had partially destroyed a nine-storey building, and levelled five other residential buildings. A rescue operation is under way at the scene. The Secretary of Zaporizhzhia City Council – Anatoliy Kurtev said at least 20 houses and about 50 multi-storey buildings have been damaged. In the past 9 days, more than 60 civilians have been killed in and around Zaporizhzhia.
The Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – Rafael Grossi said the security situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has further deteriorated overnight shelling the previous night cut all external power.
The plant now relies on diesel generators for the electricity it needs for reactor cooling and other essential nuclear safety. The IAEA is pushing for a protection zone to prevent further damage to the site. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the shelling.
The missile attack s comes a day after a blast on the only crossing between Russia and Russia occupied Crimean Peninsula, caused by a lorry explosion, damaged the Europe’s longest bridge. The blast on the road section led to oil tankers on the rail section catching fire, before the road collapsed. A portion of the roadway of the vehicle and rail bridge had fallen into the waters below it.
Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014 and has been used by Russia to move military equipment into Ukraine since its invasion.
Meanwhile, Russian divers are beginning a full examination of the damage done by explosion. Limited traffic has resumed along one lane if the bridge.
