Russian drone strikes on Zaporizhzhia kill three civilians in minibus and bus attack.

Deadly assault on public transport in Zaporizhzhia

According to UATV: On June 29, Russian forces targeted public transportation in the city of Zaporizhzhia, killing three people and wounding 15 others. One drone struck a minibus, while another hit a bus. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, including the husband of Svitlana Komarova. A third passenger died inside an ambulance.

Eyewitness accounts

Svitlana Komarova, who lost her husband in the attack, described the horror:

“I identified him, but there was blood, he was battered. What else is there to say? Terrorism, plain and simple.”

Law enforcement has opened a war crimes investigation. In May 2023 alone, 274 Ukrainian civilians were killed and roughly 1,800 wounded. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, the United Nations has confirmed over 16,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine, including nearly 800 children.

Witness Anatoliy Natkin recounted the terrifying moments:

“There was an explosion, and panic erupted immediately. All the airbags deployed, and I was covered by them. When I opened my eyes, I saw the minibus ahead. It was hit in the rear door, in the upper right corner.”

The attack on Zaporizhzhia’s public transit system is the latest example of escalating violence in Ukraine’s protracted conflict. It not only claimed innocent lives but also highlighted the vulnerability of non-combatants in war zones. UN data shows that mounting civilian casualties point to serious violations of international humanitarian law. Prosecuting war crimes is essential to delivering justice for grieving families and holding perpetrators of such atrocities accountable.