Russian attacks intensify pressure on businesses and residents in Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Russian attacks on the southeastern Ukrainian city have intensified, disrupting businesses and increasing risks for residents as Moscow escalates its air campaign, officials and locals said.

Entrepreneur Kateryna Lahuta said two Russian bombs struck her seafood business last month, destroying the processing facility that supplied her stores.

Escalating attacks

Russian forces have been positioned south of Zaporizhzhia since the first weeks of their full-scale invasion in 2022. The city, a key manufacturing centre with around 700,000 residents, has been subjected to missile and drone strikes.

Lahuta, 41, said the latest wave of attacks had made the situation more dangerous.

“Even half a year ago it was still scary, of course, and there were strikes. But it wasn’t like this,” she said. “Now it’s just a ‘safari’.”

Ukrainians use the term “safari” to describe drones pursuing civilians or vehicles in the streets. Ukraine released a video this week showing a drone chasing and wounding a vegetable seller in Kherson, southern Ukraine.

Business disruption

Reuters reporters visiting Lahuta’s business sought cover after hearing the sound of a first-person-view drone. Such small, agile drones are loaded with explosives and operated by video, and have become widely used near the front line.

Russia has denied targeting civilians during the war.

Lahuta said the attacks had driven away customers, made long-term planning difficult and contributed to labour shortages as soldiers are needed for the armed forces.

Pressure on the city

Officials said Russia was seeking to cause panic as well as damage infrastructure through more frequent strikes across Zaporizhzhia.

They said Russia had begun using first-person-view drones against the city and was also deploying larger glide bombs more regularly.

Zaporizhzhia is the administrative centre of one of four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia, although Moscow controls about three-quarters of the region.