Russian attacks in Zaporijia have killed 15 and 16 wounded

Otoday's Russian air strikes against the city of Zaporijia in southeastern Ukraine have caused at least 15 deaths and 16 casualties, according to a new assessment by local authorities.

“The number of deaths has increased to 15 people, including three children, due to Russian attacks with guided missiles,” the emergency services, cited by Ukrinform, announced.

The attacks also caused at least 16 injured, two of which children, he added.

Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi said that at least 11 people were still missing and undisputed.

Vyhivskyi advanced that rescue teams, police investigators, cynotechnics and explosives experts were mobilized at the search site.

“ Despite the threat of new bombings, we are trying to remove debris from housing as soon as possible, as there is information from at least 11 people who have not given any sign of life since this morning,” Ukrinform said.

In another message, Vyhivskyi said that rescue teams managed to rescue a woman alive who was over eight hours under the rubble of a house.

“A terrorist attack on a residential area. Five KAB missiles against common homes, against families with children”, lamented.

The head of the regional military administration, Mykhailo Semikin, said that rescuers continued to “seek people under the rubble of destroyed buildings,” several hours after the guided missile attacks.

“ The balance of air strikes against Zaporijia continues to increase,” said the French agency AFP, said Semikin.

According to the national police, Russian forces launched “five guided air bombs against residential areas of the regional capital” and two hit housing buildings.

Daniil Pichkin, a volunteer who went with his team to one of the places affected, reported to AFP that he saw “people under the rubble”, namely “a woman, a husband and a child”.

Two people were rescued alive from the wreckage, but a child did not survive.

Iryna, a 69-year-old resident of one of the buildings targeted, told AFP that she only had time to take refuge in the bathroom after seeing the imminent bombardment alerts.

He said that two neighbors and friends, both 75 years old, were designed for the street by the explosions and eventually died on their way to the hospital.

Russia has been intensifying attacks on Ukrainian territory in recent months, causing an increasing number of civilian casualties.

Since the beginning of today, Russia has launched 44 attacks on Ukraine, the Minister of the Interior said.

The attacks take place at a time when diplomatic efforts under US mediation to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to produce concrete results.

It also happens hours after Russian presidents Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump negotiated Russia's supply of gas oil to the United States in exchange for the relief of sanctions against Moscow.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 to “demilitarize and de-nazify” the neighbouring country, as Russian President Vladimir Putin then justified.

Putin's decision triggered the one considered the most serious conflict in Europe since World War II (1939–1945).