Three people are dead and six people have been injured after Russia hit an apartment building in the Iranian city of Zaporizhzhia with a missile in the early hours of the morning today.
Harrowing footage of the aftermath of the Russian attack shows rescue workers sifting through rubble and coming to the rescue of survivors.
The Russian missile hit the five-storey apartment building while it was still dark in the early hours of the morning today, Thursday, 2nd March, destroying 10 apartments, according to the Ukrainian emergency services.
A first piece of footage shows the scenes of devastation after the Russian missile attack, with a digger helping rescuers sift through the rubble. Destroyed cars can also be seen being towed away by other emergency services vehicles.
The second piece of footage shows emergency services rescuers digging through the rubble of the partially destroyed building, looking for survivors. A civilian woman can be seen crying while the rescuers work. They can also be seen pushing a damaged car.
The third piece of footage shows the immediate aftermath of the attack, with rescue efforts beginning before sunrise. An elderly woman can be seen being helped out of her partially destroyed home by two rescuers.
Another person can be seen climbing down a ladder being held up for them by emergency service workers.
The fourth piece of footage shows the rescue workers hard at work, with firefighters helping a survivor back down to street level using their extendable ladder and basket.
The woman can be seen wincing in pain and falling to her knees as rescuers help her. She groans audibly in pain as she is placed on a stretcher.
The images then show the inside of the apartment building, with firefighters and other rescuers seen carrying a victim out on a stretcher and down some stairs.
The fifth piece of footage shows firefighters in a basket at the end of their extendable ladder by the destroyed apartment building, with rescuers seen sifting through the rubble.
They can be seen finding a survivor and placing them on a stretcher before they are seen removing him from the building.
The National Police of Ukraine said in a statement at approximately 7am this morning: “The enemy struck missile strikes on Zaporizhzhya, killed people – police are documenting the consequences of the war crime.
“Tonight, the military of the Russian Federation carried out another attack (preliminary – with zrk c-300) in the territory of the regional centre. One rocket hit a multi-storey building, under the rubble were the residents of the apartments, who were sleeping peacefully at this time. At the moment, three dead people have been identified, six injured have been hospitalised.
“As a result of a night strike in the five-story building, more than 10 apartments from the 2nd to 5th floors were destroyed. The debris and the explosion wave damaged surrounding homes.
“As a result of rescue and search from under the rubble, six injured people and the bodies of three dead were unlocked.
“Rescuers, volunteers and personnel of profilílʹnih are at the scene. Police and staff of the usbu document the consequences of the war crime of the occupiers, conduct a survey of the area, collect physical evidence of the military aggression of the Russians.
“On the fact of the crime provided for the century. 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war) criminal codeksu of Ukraine, criminal proceedings are open.
“Rescue and search operations are ongoing.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 372nd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd March 2023, Russia had lost about 150,605 personnel, 3,397 tanks, 6,658 armoured combat vehicles, 2,398 artillery units, 480 multiple launch rocket systems, 247 air defence systems, 300 warplanes, 288 helicopters, 2,058 drones, 873 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,264 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 230 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian officials have said that Russia has lost at least 130 tanks and armoured personnel carriers over the last three weeks in the battle for the town of Vuhledar.
They said that there was an “epic” confrontation on a plain near the town, resulting in the biggest tank battle in the war so far.
Alexander Rodnyansky, an economic adviser to Ukraine’s President, has said that his country’s military forces may decide to withdraw from Bakhmut.
The head of Russia’s notorious Wagner mercenary organisation, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that Russia’s forces are being met with “furious resistance” from the Ukrainian side.
Prigozhin said that he had seen no sign of withdrawal so far.
The United States is reportedly consulting with its allies about potentially imposing new sanctions on Beijing if China decides to give Russia military support for its war in Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has said that it has thwarted what it said was a major attack by Ukraine on Crimea involving drones. It said: “Six Ukrainian attack drones were shot down by air defence systems. Another four Ukrainian drones were disabled by electronic warfare.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is making preparations to welcome China’s leader Xi Jinping to Moscow.
The Chinese leader and his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, have issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine and for negotiations to find a political settlement to the conflict.
The Finnish Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favour of joining NATO, with 184 MPs voting in favour, seven voting against and one abstaining.
The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has said that his country will increase ammunition production to support Ukraine and to shore up its own defences.
Scholz said: “The now one-year lasting support of Ukraine has also brought us the knowledge that enables us to ensure that there is also a sufficient supply, with spare parts, that we have created repair capacities for the weapons used in the war, at locations outside of Ukraine.”
He added: “We will ensure that the production of ammunition is advanced, both for the weapons that we have supplied ourselves and those that come from classic stocks that are available in eastern Europe.”
