A Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed 20 people, including three children, and wounded 18 on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials cited by Reuters. The strike hit residential areas, damaging apartment buildings and prompting emergency crews to search the rubble for survivors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack and linked it to Washington’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports. He said the easing of economic pressure risked encouraging Moscow to continue its assault on Ukrainian cities.
Another deadly week for Ukrainian civilians
The Zaporizhzhia strike was the third mass-casualty attack in Ukraine in the same week, Reuters reported. Russian strikes on Wednesday and Thursday killed scores of civilians in Kramatorsk and Pryluky. The repeated attacks have added to pressure on Ukraine’s air defences and emergency services.
Zaporizhzhia, an industrial city in the country’s southeast, has faced repeated bombardment during the war. Its outskirts lie close to the front line, leaving residential areas vulnerable to attacks.
Diplomatic efforts continue amid escalation
The attack came as Ukrainian and European officials were holding talks with US representatives in Miami on a possible common proposal to end the war. Zelenskyy said the diesel decision had taken Kyiv by surprise. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, said an immediate resumption of peace talks was unlikely.
The latest casualties underscore the continuing risks to civilians while diplomatic efforts remain uncertain. The death toll and details of the damage were reported by Reuters, citing Ukrainian officials.
Source: Reuters, October 10, 2026. Image is illustrative; it is not a photograph of Saturday’s attack.
