Russian rocket strikes apartment building in Zaporizhzhia

On Wednesday night, the Russian forces fired six rockets at the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. 

One missile hit a multi-story apartment building, Rubryka reports, citing the statements of the local authorities and officials.

The head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Yurii Malashko, reported that the Russian attack took place from 01.33 a.m. to 01.48 a.m. The type of missiles used by the Russians to hit the central part of the city is yet to be established. 

The head of the region added that the residents of the building were evacuated and they would be provided with temporary housing. 

Later, he reported that the number of killed had increased to two civilians, three were wounded, and three more people were missing.

In turn, the secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, Anatolii Kurtuev, said that the rocket attack partially destroyed the apartments in the two sections of the building.

"Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the site of the Russian terrorist attack," said the city council secretary. "People are being helped in buses, the city council tent, and the nearest Point of Invincibility."

The section of the residential building was ruined from the 5th to the 3rd floor. The rescuers managed to pull out one person alive from under the rubble. 

"Employees of the State Emergency Service, together with law enforcement officers and volunteers, rescued a man and handed him over to medics," the rescuers said.

State Emergency Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that two people were killed and three more were injured, adding that another 50 building residents were evacuated. Psychologists of the emergency service work with the victims at the scene.

Emergency rescue operations are ongoing, the rescuers added.

What we know about Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia

Since the start of the full-scale war in February last year, part of the Zaporizhzhia region has been under Russian occupation. The captured territories include the ones along the coast of the Sea of Azov, the ones surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and major cities like Enerhodar, Berdiansk, and Melitopol.

The occupying forces often shell and bomb Zaporizhzhia, often using ballistic missiles or converted munitions from S-300 anti-aircraft systems.

On Wednesday night, October 18, explosions rocked the city again, after which an air raid alert was announced in the region.

Before that, on the night of October 15, the Russian forces hit Zaporizhzhia with three S-300 missiles, later attacking the city with another missile in the afternoon.

On September 30, the Russian forces hit the territory of the Matviivka community near Zaporizhzhia with rockets, leading to casualties and destruction.