Ukraine: at least 13 dead in Russian bombing of Zaporizhzhia

A Russian aerial bombardment on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia left at least 13 dead on Wednesday, said the authorities of this large southern city, targeted in recent weeks by increasing attacks from Moscow. Ukraine, for its part, announced that it had struck an oil depot in Engels, in southwest Russia, during the night, causing a fire in which two firefighters died, according to local authorities.

“Thirteen dead following the enemy strike on Zaporizhia,” the region’s governor, Ivan Fedorov, said on Telegram, revising upwards a previous toll which reported one dead and 30 wounded. He published photos showing bodies lying in the street and burning cars, without specifying where the bombing took place. “The Russians hit Zaporizhia with aerial bombs (…) There is nothing more cruel than launching aerial bombardments on a city knowing that ordinary civilians will suffer,” the Ukrainian president reacted on Facebook , Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Russian army has intensified its attacks on southern Ukraine in recent months and increased its strikes on Zaporizhia, a city which had 700,000 inhabitants before the war. Two Russian strikes, on December 6 and 10, 2024, left 10 and 11 people dead, respectively, and more than 40 injured. Since November, Ukraine has feared an offensive towards this city which is approximately 35 kilometers from Russian positions and 50 kilometers from the nuclear power plant of the same name, occupied by Russia since 2022.

This strike takes place as the Russian army continues its advance in the east of the country, and as clashes continue in the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces occupy several hundred square kilometers. The two camps are trying to cement their positions before the return to the White House of Donald Trump on January 20, who has said he wants to work to end the war as soon as he takes office.

Oil depot on fire

For its part, the General Staff of the Ukrainian army said on Wednesday that it had struck an oil depot in Engels, in the Russian region of Saratov, during the night, claiming that this site supplied fuel to the Engels military airfield. 2, “where the enemy strategic aviation is based”. Two Russian firefighters died while fighting the fire started by this strike, the governor of this region located 500 km from the Ukrainian border and already affected by attacks in the past announced on Telegram.

The governor, Roman Boussarguine, said that the fire brigade operation was continuing and that the size of the fire had increased. The attack on the depot “creates serious logistical problems for Russian strategic aviation” and “significantly reduces its ability to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian sites,” said the Ukrainian General Staff. kyiv claims to be targeting military sites or sites used by the army, in particular oil depots, in response to the massive strikes which have regularly devastated its territory since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Ukrainian bombings also regularly cause civilian casualties in Russia, particularly in border regions. Russian Telegram channels reported that residents said explosions had been heard in Engels and shared footage showing a large fire topped by a column of smoke.

Ukrainian police also said on Wednesday that two people were killed and five others injured following Russian artillery and drone bombardments against the southern region of Kherson. In total, Russia launched 64 combat drones against Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said, claiming to have shot down 41 of them.