Russian glide‑bomb attack on Zaporizhzhia kills at least 20 people

By Vitaly Shevchenko and Tom McArthur

Russia launched five glide bombs at residential buildings in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday morning, killing at least 20 people — including four children — and wounding 32 others. Many are still missing, believed to be trapped under the rubble.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as Russia’s “thanks” for a U.S. diesel‑import deal, while noting that 13 additional regions had been struck overnight. “Any easing of pressure means they can keep fighting more,” he said.

Acting mayor Regina Harchenko told Ukrainian television from the scene that the ground floor of an apartment block was hit and the upper floors collapsed. More than 80 search‑and‑rescue workers have been deployed, listening for survivors under the wreckage.

Zaporizhzhia, home to over 700,000 residents and located less than 10 miles (16 km) from the front line, has been repeatedly targeted by Russian drone and missile attacks in recent months.

Earlier this week, a Russian glide bomb strike on two buses in eastern Kramatorsk killed 33 people. In addition, a missile hit an apartment building in Pryluky near Kyiv, taking 22 lives, including five children.

The United Nations reports that civilian casualties in Ukraine jumped 55% in the first eight months of 2026, underscoring the escalating toll of the conflict.