UKRAINE: A Russian missile attack has wreaked havoc in Ukraine’s city of Zaporizhzhia, leaving two people dead and at least two others wounded. The city, located in proximity to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, fell victim to the attack on Wednesday.
Ukraine authorities confirmed the incident, with initial reports suggesting three fatalities. However, one individual was successfully resuscitated, according to Minister Ihor Klymenko.
The missile struck a residential area within the city, as disclosed by Anatoliy Kurtev, the secretary of the city council. This alarming incident unfolded only about 50 kilometres northeast of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has remained under Russian occupation since the initial weeks of the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media to share a video showcasing billowing smoke emanating from the damaged buildings adjacent to a church.
The attack has raised concerns about the potential impact on the nuclear power plant, given the constant shelling in its vicinity since the Russian occupation.
Simultaneously, Russia faced its own tragedy as an explosion rocked a factory responsible for producing optical equipment for the nation’s security forces. This incident occurred in the city of Sergiev Posad, located north of Moscow. The explosion claimed one life, injured 60 individuals, and left eight people missing.
The exact cause of the explosion at the Zagorsk Optical-Mechanical Plant remains undisclosed by Russian officials. The blast damaged a substantial number of apartment buildings, leading to evacuations in the surrounding areas.
Despite the devastation, rescue efforts are underway, with concerns that survivors might still be trapped beneath the rubble. The Russian Investigative Committee, the nation’s primary criminal investigation agency, has initiated a criminal inquiry into the incident, citing potential violations of industrial safety.
The two tragic events highlight the ongoing instability in the region, casting a sombre shadow on the lives of those affected and underscoring the need for swift resolutions to prevent further loss of life and property.
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