Russia targets schools, offices, and buses in Ukrainian city
Russia trains sights on schools offices – Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, has faced a surge in Russian attacks during June. At 5 a.m., Anna Holovchenko was jolted awake by glide bombs striking the outskirts of her city. Over the past weeks, the security situation in Zaporizhzhia has worsened significantly. Though the city lies just 24km from the front line, it remains home to nearly 750,000 people, with the war’s impact intensifying daily.
Residents endure relentless strikes
Anna recounted how a second wave of attacks soon followed, with drones flying overhead. “Realising I couldn’t sleep any longer, I began preparing for work,” she noted. The assaults have targeted multiple locations, including buses, petrol stations, schools, government buildings, and residential areas. A Shahed drone recently crashed near her workplace, causing a loud explosion, while another struck a power cable, disrupting internet access.
“That’s just another ordinary day in Zaporizhzhia,” Anna said, highlighting the city’s ongoing struggle with continuous strikes.
Mayoral efforts to bolster defenses
Regina Kharchenko, the acting mayor, described a particularly intense attack as “so loud, I took cover in the toilet instead of heading to the shelter.” During a city council meeting held underground, she stated, “The enemy has escalated terror against civilians, municipal transport, privately owned buses, cars, and even children.”
“Personally, I’m very afraid,” Regina admitted. “Sometimes I sleep on the floor in a corridor at home.”
Plans are underway to expand the city’s shelter network and install anti-drone nets in high-risk zones. Anti-shatter film is also being applied to windows of schools, hospitals, and public buildings. Despite these measures, the threat persists as Russian forces maintain a steady assault.
Technological shifts in attack strategy
Sam Cranny-Evans of the Royal United Services Institute suggests the increase in strikes stems from new tactics. Russian troops are now using longer-range mothership drones to deploy smaller, more agile units that can reach areas previously inaccessible. Additionally, mesh networking technology has made it harder to jam drone signals, enabling them to relay data across greater distances.
Cranny-Evans also points to reduced Ukrainian electronic warfare efforts as a factor. With focus shifted elsewhere, Russian units have intensified their targeting of Zaporizhzhia. Local authorities reported intercepting 884 Russian drones in the final days of June alone, underscoring the scale of the aerial threat.
Stalemate and resilience
Russian forces have retreated south of Zaporizhzhia but continue advancing in other regions, albeit at a slower pace. Their progress has been hindered by Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, fuel storage, and logistics in occupied territories. Despite this, the city remains under constant bombardment.
Anna, who acknowledges the thought of leaving has crossed her mind, remains determined. “We’ve got food and fuel, why would I leave? Maybe I’m not the easily scared type,” she remarked. She emphasizes the importance of staying to protect Zaporizhzhia from becoming another casualty of the war. “We’re just trying to stay safe and survive until our victory,” she added.
