On January 2, Zaporizhzhia endured a massive two-wave drone attack. Residential, commercial, and energy infrastructure were targeted, while air defenses prevented widespread destruction.
On the night of January 2, Zaporizhzhia experienced one of the most massive drone attacks in recent times. Russian occupiers deliberately sought to harm both civilians and the city’s critical infrastructure, using Shahed-type kamikaze drones. This was reported by wz.lviv.ua.
Details of the enemy attack
According to Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration, the attack occurred in two waves.
The first series of explosions rang out late in the evening on January 1, with a follow-up strike recorded around 2 a.m.
In total, the air raid alert in the region lasted nearly five hours.
Although the Ukrainian Defense Forces managed to neutralize a significant portion of the threat before it reached the city, nine strikes were recorded within Zaporizhzhia.
The enemy’s main targets included:
- Residential areas: debris and direct hits damaged dozens of private homes and apartment buildings. In one district, a fire broke out near a five-story building, spreading to nearby parked cars.
- Commercial property: a shopping center and office spaces within a residential complex suffered significant damage.
- Energy infrastructure: Russian forces again attempted to plunge the city into darkness by targeting energy facilities. However, thanks to the swift work of repair crews, as of the morning of January 2, all residents in the region still have electricity.
Consequences and humanitarian situation
The main outcome of this difficult night was that new casualties among civilians were avoided.
Ivan Fedorov emphasized that it was the effective work of air defense that saved the lives of hundreds of residents. However, the overall situation in the region remains tense:
1. Thirty people injured in previous attacks at the end of December are still being treated in Zaporizhzhia hospitals.
2. Just in the past day, Russian forces carried out over 700 strikes across 27 settlements in the region, using aviation and artillery.
3. Emergency services continue to deal with the aftermath of fires and inspect the area for dangerous debris.
Authorities urge residents not to ignore air raid alerts, as Russian aggression during the holiday period has only intensified, and the enemy continues to use terror tactics against civilian infrastructure.
