A Russian attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region has left at least nine people dead, according to the governor of the region, Ivan Fedorov. The strike set a car garage and service station on fire, resulting in casualties including two children. This incident comes amid escalating tensions in the nearly three-year war in Ukraine, with Russian strikes increasing at the start of winter.
In addition to the attack on Zaporizhia, the Russian military also targeted Kryvyi Rih, killing at least two people and injuring 16 others. The city, located close to the front lines in southern Ukraine, has been frequently targeted by Russian aerial strikes since the 2022 invasion.
The attacks occurred as Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, where they signed a mutual defence pact. Putin emphasized the potential use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed to Belarus in response to aggression, as well as the deployment of hypersonic Oreshnik missiles in Belarus in 2025.
The recent use of the Oreshnik missile in Ukraine has raised concerns, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling it “the latest bout of Russian madness.” The hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of at least Mach 5 and can manoeuvre mid-flight, posing a new threat that Ukraine is seeking updated air defence systems to counteract. The situation remains tense as Russia continues to escalate its military actions in the region.
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