Russian forces launched a ballistic missile strike on Zaporizhzhia on Monday, Aug. 18, just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration (OVA), reported that two explosions occurred in the city between 9:00 and 9:05 a.m. following a ballistic missile warning.
Fedorov later said Russian forces had targeted critical infrastructure, confirming two direct hits. As of 9:25 a.m., two people were reported injured and receiving medical care.
By 10:00 a.m., the number of casualties had risen to six, with two hospitalized in serious condition. Fedorov added that the number of residents requiring medical assistance continues to grow.
The State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported that one of the injured was a teenager.
A fire also broke out in a shopping pavilion covering an area of 500 square meters. Rescuers are working to extinguish the blaze, and all emergency services are operating at the scene.
According to the agency, the number of people injured in the Russian shelling of Zaporizhzhia has risen to 17, including one teenager.
“Psychologists from the State Emergency Service provided assistance to 23 citizens. The number of victims is still being confirmed,” the report said.
The blast and debris damaged residential buildings and commercial premises, and partially destroyed a bus stop.
Rescuers extinguished the fire and are now clearing and securing the damaged structures. Emergency services remain on site.
Elsewhere, Russian forces struck Kharkiv early on Aug. 18 with Shahed drones, killing five people – including a 1.5-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy – and injuring at least 20, local officials said.
Four drones hit a five-story apartment block in the city’s Industrial District, sparking fires and damaging nearby buildings and cars. Rescuers pulled two people from the rubble, while five remain missing.
The overnight strike followed a ballistic missile attack on Kharkiv hours earlier that injured 11. Russia also launched drone strikes on Odesa and Sumy, causing fires and damage but no casualties.
Zelensky has arrived in the US this morning for high-stakes talks with US President Donald Trump and European leaders.
“We all equally want to end this war quickly and reliably,” he wrote on Telegram, stressing that peace must be lasting and not like past deals where Ukraine “was forced to give up Crimea and part of Donbas” or given “supposed ‘security guarantees’ in 1994, which didn’t work.”
He said Ukraine should not have surrendered Crimea in 2014, “just as Ukrainians did not give up Kyiv, Odesa, or Kharkiv after 2022.”
According to Trump’s schedule, the talks begin with a bilateral meeting with Zelensky at 8:15 p.m. (Kyiv time), followed by a group session with EU leaders at 10:00 p.m.
In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump declared that Ukraine’s NATO membership and reclaiming Crimea are “off the table,” writing:
“President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!”
This news story might be updated as more information becomes available.