Seven people, including three children, have been killed after Russian missiles struck residential buildings in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to RMF24 – fakty.
The attack took place shortly after 5am local time, when missiles hit apartment blocks in the city. Local authorities reported that ten people were wounded in the strike, including one child. Two of the injured are in critical condition and fighting for their lives in hospital.
Emergency services have been working continuously since the early morning hours, searching through the rubble of destroyed buildings for survivors. The rescue operation remains ongoing as officials warn that more victims may still be trapped beneath the debris.
Search operations continue
“Search and rescue operations at the impact sites are ongoing. There may still be people under the rubble,” Mychajło Semikin, head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration, said via the Telegram messaging service.
Zaporizhzhia, located in south-eastern Ukraine, has been repeatedly targeted by Russian forces throughout the conflict. The city lies in a region that has seen intense fighting, with parts of the broader Zaporizhzhia oblast under Russian occupation since the early stages of the invasion.
The attack comes amid a pattern of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. Residential areas, energy facilities, and other non-military targets have frequently been hit, leading to significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to affect the large Ukrainian community living in Britain, many of whom have relatives in cities like Zaporizhzhia. Poles in the UK with family or friends in Ukraine should be aware that communication networks can be disrupted following such attacks, particularly in affected areas where electricity and mobile services may be knocked out.
Those wishing to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine can do so through established charities operating in Britain, including the British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal and the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme continues to operate for those hosting Ukrainian refugees, with information available on gov.uk.
UK residents with family members in Ukraine should ensure they have emergency contact plans in place and are registered with multiple communication channels, as traditional phone networks may be unreliable in areas affected by strikes. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office maintains updated travel advice for Ukraine on its website, though British nationals are strongly advised not to travel to the country.
