At least 29 people, including a 13-year-old boy, were injured in a Russian drone strike on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia overnight, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov.
The strikes, which began late Thursday and continued into Friday, targeted civilian infrastructure, damaging homes, a university, and an industrial facility. Rescue workers pulled three people from rubble, and 12 of the injured are currently receiving hospital treatment.
“Residential buildings, a university, and a key infrastructure site were all hit,” Fedorov wrote on Telegram. He added that at least 10 strikes were carried out in the city. Ukraine’s state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, confirmed that its locomotive repair plant was among the targets. The facility, which specializes in repairing electric passenger trains, has been rendered inoperable.
Photos from the scene showed buildings engulfed in flames, collapsed structures, and emergency workers climbing ladders to reach damaged high-rises. One image captured rescuers carrying a wounded man through the debris.
In the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, two men were also wounded in separate Russian drone strikes, which triggered fires at two locations, according to Governor Sergiy Lysak.
Heavy Drone Barrage Across Ukraine
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 150 drones in total during the assault. Sixty-four were shot down, and another 62 failed to hit their targets due to electronic countermeasures. The fate of the remaining 24 drones remains unclear.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed its own air defenses intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, most of them over the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Zelensky Highlights Minerals Deal with U.S., Seeks More Pressure on Russia
As Ukraine grapples with the latest wave of drone attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the signing of a new minerals development agreement with the United States. Though the deal does not include direct security guarantees, Zelensky called it “truly equal” and said it had evolved significantly during negotiations.
The agreement focuses on the joint development of Ukraine’s critical mineral resources—materials vital for advanced technologies and defense systems. Kyiv hopes the pact will serve as a stepping stone to stronger U.S. security commitments.
Zelensky renewed his call for international allies to intensify pressure on Moscow, saying it was the only way to bring Russia to the negotiating table.
