At least seven individuals sustained injuries during a nighttime airstrike by Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov, who reported the incident early on February 26.
The attack resulted in damage to 19 apartment buildings, four private homes, and several non-residential structures. Additionally, over 500 residences in three districts of the city are without heating. Emergency services have begun efforts to secure damaged windows with OSB boards.
Throughout the night, air raid alerts were issued continuously across Zaporizhzhia and the surrounding region due to the threat of drone attacks and ballistic missiles. Russian military forces have been persistently targeting Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various types of weaponry, including drones, missiles, and artillery systems.
Ukrainian authorities and international organizations have classified these strikes as war crimes, emphasizing their deliberate nature. Attacks on essential services and healthcare facilities aim to deprive civilians of electricity, heating, water supply, communication, and medical assistance, which some legal experts argue may constitute genocidal actions.
The ongoing conflict has seen Russia accused of committing numerous crimes against Ukrainian citizens, including public calls for the destruction of Ukrainians and targeted assaults on vital infrastructure. The United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted in 1948, obligates member states to prevent and punish acts of genocide.
Despite these allegations, Russian leadership denies that its military is intentionally striking civilian infrastructure, asserting that it does not target non-combatants.
A recent airstrike in Zaporizhzhia has left seven injured and caused significant damage to residential buildings and infrastructure. The ongoing conflict has raised serious concerns about war crimes and potential genocidal actions by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians.