Russian troops attack Zaporizhzhia: debris removal completed, 38 people injured

This was stated by Askad Ashurbekov, a deputy of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Council, on Espreso TV.

All rescue operations and rubble removal have been completed. 38 people were injured, including 3 children.

"If the attack had occurred at night, there would have been much more victims. This is evidence of the treacherous actions of the occupiers, who strike in broad daylight, trying to intimidate and sow panic among the local population," he emphasized.

Earlier, the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration reported another casualty to Ukrinform. A boy born in 2004 died in the hospital from an open head injury. 

"The death toll from the terrorist attack on March 22 has increased: a boy born in 2004 died in hospital," the statement said.

The Regional Military Administration also said that doctors had been fighting for the victim's life for two days.

Previously, it was reported that a total of 34 people were injured, one of whom died in the hospital. Among the civilians who were injured, 29 were hospitalized, including 3 children.

On March 22, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko announced the completion of the rescue operation. Rescuers pulled 6 people out of the rubble and extinguished the fire in two high-rise buildings. Volunteers helped.

"The police recorded evidence of another Russian war crime against the civilian population," Klymenko emphasized.

As of March 22, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Yuriy Malashko, told Ukrinform that there were people under the rubble.

“Currently, 33 people are known to be injured. One person was killed... There is information that there may be people in the apartment that was hit, preliminary an elderly couple,” he said.

Earlier, Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, told Espreso TV that the attack was launched from a long-range MLRS.

"Probably, it is a long-range MLRS, such as Tornado, which Russia has. There are no means to intercept such things, because it is rocket artillery," he said.

As of 1:58 p.m., the secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council Anatoliy Kurtiev informed about 25 hospitalized people who were injured in the attack. One person, who was hospitalized in serious condition, died. Three people are currently in serious condition, 19 are in moderate condition, and 3 are in minor condition. Two of the victims are children.

The Secretary of the Zaporizhzhia City Council Anatoliy Kurtiev reported a Russian attack on 2 high-rise buildings in Zaporizhzhia.

"Two nine-story buildings with civilians in them came under fire launched by the sneaky scum. At the moment, we know about 18 victims (including two children aged 7 and 9). Eleven adults have been hospitalized (4 of them are in serious condition, 7 are in moderate condition). Five more people received medical assistance at the place of the hit. The children are now being taken to hospital," the official said.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a statement regarding the attack on Telegram.

"Zaporizhzhia. Right now, a Russian missile hit a multi-storey building. Russia is shelling the city with bestial savagery. Residential areas where ordinary people and children live are being fired at. The terrorist state seeks to destroy our cities, our state, our people," the president noted.

Earlier, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s Office of the President, informed about the attack on Telegram.

"Russians are shelling Zaporizhzhia. Residential buildings and Khortytsia Island are under enemy fire," he wrote.

• On the evening of March 21, Russian Su-35 fighter jets launched missiles from the sea at the Odesa region. Two missiles were shot down by the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces. Another missile hit the building of a monastery of the UOC-MP, there are injured civilians.

• On the night of March 21 to 22, air defense systems were activated in the Kyiv region.

• In particular, Zhytomyr region came under attack: Russian troops damaged an infrastructure facility.

• Also during the day, Russia attacked the Donetsk region, damaging houses and a business. On March 21, 4 people were killed and 5 were injured as a result of Russia's armed aggression.