Russian missile struck a hotel located in the heart of Zaporizhzhia, a Ukrainian city that has been consistently targeted by Russian shelling. The attack, which unfolded on a Thursday evening, has left one person dead and 16 others injured, according to reports from Ukrainian officials.
The missile, identified as an Iskander, struck the city precisely at 7:20 p.m. local time, causing widespread destruction. Zaporizhzhia has tragically become familiar with the ravages of conflict, and this incident marks yet another harrowing episode in its troubled history.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his deep distress, stating, “Zaporizhzhia. The city suffers daily from Russian shelling. A fire broke out in a civilian building after the occupiers hit it with a missile.”
Zaporizhzhia Governor Yuriy Malashko provided a grim account of the wounded, revealing that among the 16 injured individuals were four children. The aftermath of the missile strike revealed a grim tableau, with official images and videos capturing a substantial crater, damaged vehicles, and a four-story building that bore the brunt of the attack. The hotel sign was a stark reminder of the location’s significance.
The Reikartz Hotel in question holds a prominent position in the city center, situated along the picturesque banks of the Dnipro River. Astonishingly, this hotel played a vital role as an essential lodging option for United Nations staff engaged in their missions within the city. Expressing her shock, Denise Brown, the humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, conveyed her dismay through an email message, stating, “I am deeply shocked by the news that a hotel frequently utilized by United Nations personnel and our colleagues from NGOs, who are assisting those affected by the war, has been struck by a recent Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia. I have personally chosen this hotel for every single one of my visits to Zaporizhzhia.”
Tragically, this is not an isolated incident for Zaporizhzhia. Just a day prior, the city had already suffered the devastating consequences of another missile strike, which claimed the lives of two young women and a man. Additionally, nine others sustained injuries in that incident. This grim pattern underscores the urgent need for international attention and decisive action to address the ongoing conflict and to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
As the situation continues to escalate in Zaporizhzhia, the global community must come together to address this crisis and work towards a peaceful resolution. The toll on civilian lives and infrastructure is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict, underscoring the pressing need for diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the suffering and restore stability to the region.
