Russia shells residential building in Zaporizhzhia, killing three people, others may be under rubble

Yurii Malashko, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, said this on the air of the telethon.

He said that the bodies of two victims have been removed from the rubble, and another victim is still being rescued. 

It is noted that there are six victims, including a woman six weeks pregnant, and 11 people were rescued.

“There is still a possibility that nine missing persons are alive, but under the rubble,” the statement said.

Earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office reported four dead and eight wounded.

“According to preliminary data, four people were killed, eight were wounded, and five more are missing, including a child,” the statement said.

Earlier, the National Police noted that as a result of another Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, a missile hit a multi-story building, and residents of apartments were trapped under the rubble.

“As a result of the strike, more than 10 apartments from the 2nd to the 5th floor were destroyed in the five-story building. The debris and blast wave damaged neighboring buildings. Six wounded people and the bodies of three dead were unblocked from the rubble,” the press service said.

Law enforcement officers opened criminal proceedings over a crime under Art. 438 (Violation of the laws and customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video with the aftermath of the tragedy and emphasized: “The terrorist state wants to turn every single day into a day of terror for our people. But evil will not prevail on our land. We will expel all the occupiers, and they will be held accountable for everything.”

As of 7 am, the State Emergency Service of Zaporizhzhia Oblast reports that emergency rescue operations at the site of the attack are continuing.

Experts rescued 11 people from the rubble of the high-rise building, including a pregnant woman. 20 civilians were evacuated, and three were hospitalized with injuries.

Anatolii Kurtiev, the secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, wrote about the attack on Telegram.

"The damned Russian monsters insidiously attacked Zaporizhzhia at night again. According to preliminary information, a multi-storey residential building in one of the city's districts was destroyed as a result of an enemy air raid," Kurtiev said.

The Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration reported that three floors of a residential building were destroyed by the missile strike. The administration noted that information about the victims is currently being clarified, and all relevant services are working on site. Later they added that "the enemy launched a missile attack (probably S-300) on a residential building in the city. The shell destroyed three floors''.

Later, the Zaporizhzhia City Council reported that the 5-story building was almost completely destroyed by enemy shelling, with people still trapped under the rubble.

"According to preliminary information, 2 people were killed. Our sincere condolences to the families and friends," said Kurteiv.

Aid stations of the State Emergency Service, the National Police, the City Council and social protection have been deployed at the scene, and municipal buses are evacuating the victims, he said.

The City Council Secretary noted that full information on the consequences of the attack is still being clarified.

According to the State Emergency Service, a missile strike in Zaporizhzhia destroyed floors 5 to 1 of a 5-story residential building within one entrance.

Rescuers reported that as of 5 am, 9 people had been rescued, including one pregnant woman, and 20 evacuated. Rescuers have unblocked 2 dead people from the rubble.

A total of 24 units of special equipment and 90 rescuers are working at the scene. Psychologists of the State Emergency Service are working at the scene to provide assistance.

The last time Zaporizhzhia was attacked was in the evening of February 24. Then Russian terrorists struck the suburbs.