Russian drone barrage injures 31, including 2 children, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia

Attack on Zaporizhzhia

The attack on Zaporizhzhia began around 10 p.m. on Thursday, May 1. Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Regional Military Administration, reported that air defense systems were active and explosions were heard in the city.

“Russians struck Zaporizhzhia at least 10 times. There were several fires. According to preliminary information, there are victims,” Fedorov said at 10:29 p.m.

At 10:52 p.m., Fedorov reported that a 61-year-old man had been killed in the attack. However, about two hours later, he clarified that the initial information was incorrect — rescuers had managed to free the man from the rubble, and medics were transporting him to the hospital.

By 12:59 a.m., authorities confirmed that 14 people had been injured in the attack, including ten men and four women.

As of 5:24 a.m., the number of people wounded in the Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia had risen to 28. Russian forces targeted civilian infrastructure, damaging residential buildings, a university, and an infrastructure facility.

“Contusions, explosive injuries, cut wounds, burns, and fractures — 29 people were injured in the night attack on Zaporizhzhia. Among the injured is a 13-year-old boy,” Fedorov reported at 6:40 a.m.

According to him, 12 people remain in medical facilities in the regional center, where they are currently receiving all necessary assistance.

Ukrzaliznytsia, the state-owned railway company of Ukraine, reported that the Ukrainian locomotive repair plant in Zaporizhzhia came under a massive attack at night.

“This is a purely civilian enterprise specializing in the repair of passenger electric locomotives. The State Emergency Service extinguished the fire in the morning, and now explosive experts are working at the site. The staff on duty was in a shelter, so the most important thing is that there were no injuries or fatalities at the plant. After the attack on the railroad plant in Kyiv, this is another example of how the enemy is targeting civilian railroad enterprises in an attempt to disrupt the movement of our country,” the company stated.

Emergency rescue operations have been completed in Zaporizhzhia, the State Emergency Service said. As of 7:00 a.m. on May 2, the number of injured people increased to 29. Rescuers unblocked 3 people from the rubble of the destroyed building.

Psychologists from the State Emergency Service provided assistance to 22 people, including 2 children. Relevant emergency and municipal services were working at the scene. A total of 102 rescuers and 23 units of equipment from the State Emergency Service were involved in the aftermath.

Fedorov confirmed that 27 high-rise buildings, more than 10 private homes, non-residential buildings, and educational institutions were damaged in the night attack. The premises of the Ukrzaliznytsia locomotive repair plant were also destroyed. According to the head of the regional state administration, it will take several days to assess the condition of all damaged buildings. However, utility companies have already begun working overnight to address the aftermath of the Russian attack.

Three people who were rescued from under the rubble received all the necessary first aid and were taken to the hospital, as reported on Espreso TV by Yulia Barysheva, the press officer of the Main Department of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service in the Zaporizhzhia region.

At 1 p.m., Fedorov reported updated information that the attack had injured 31 people, including two children.

"In Zaporizhzhia hospitals, people affected by yesterday's attack on the regional center continue to seek medical help. The number of hospitalized has increased — there are now 7 people in medical facilities," he wrote.