Russian Glide Bomb Strike on Zaporizhzhia Kills 15, Including Three Children

According to BBC News World, at least 15 people, including three children, were killed on Saturday after Russian forces launched a series of five glide bombs into the city of Zaporizhzhia. Local officials confirmed that the strikes targeted residential buildings in the south-eastern city, causing an apartment block to collapse.

According to acting Mayor Regina Kharchenko, at least 16 other individuals were injured, and rescue teams, numbering more than 80 workers, are continuing efforts to locate those still missing under the rubble. Speaking from the site, Kharchenko described the impact as a strike at the city's "heart," noting that the loss of life among children has caused immense grief for the community. Zaporizhzhia, which has a population exceeding 700,000, sits less than 10 miles from the front line and frequently faces aerial attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the bombardment as a response from Moscow to a newly announced deal by US President Donald Trump, which eases sanctions on Russian diesel imports. Zelensky argued that the attack, alongside overnight strikes on 13 other Ukrainian regions, signals that Moscow views any easing of international pressure as a mandate to intensify its military efforts.

"Russia's choice is war. And they will be ready to end it only when they feel that their ability to drag the war out is diminishing," Zelensky stated on social media. He criticized the US-Russia diesel arrangement, which analysts suggest is an attempt by the Trump administration to address domestic fuel price concerns ahead of upcoming midterm elections.

The attack follows a series of recent incidents involving civilian casualties. On Thursday, at least 33 people were reported killed in a glide bomb strike on civilian buses in Kramatorsk, while a missile attack in Pryluky the previous day resulted in 22 deaths. The United Nations has noted a 55% increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine during the first eight months of the year, as both nations continue to strike critical infrastructure and economic targets amid the ongoing conflict.