Children Play Amid Daily Drone and Glide-Bomb Strikes in Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia, a major industrial hub on the Dnipro River, remains under intense pressure as Russian FPV drones, Shahed drones and glide-bombs target the city daily, with the Kosmichnyi district bearing the brunt. About 100,000 locals there live with the uncertainty of whether to stay or flee, while children continue to play in parks, quickly hiding when the characteristic drone sounds arrive. Six-year-old Veronika Didenko, accustomed to the alarms, says she is not afraid, whereas her mother Yuliia, a single parent, worries about the cost and emotional toll of leaving.

Elderly resident Liudmyla Pavelko survived a glide-bomb blast that injured her and damaged her Soviet-era apartment building, joining the 24 people reported injured in that strike. Rescue workers, led by Dmytro Borodatyi of the regional State Emergency Service, must pause operations whenever a double-tap attack is suspected, yet some continue risking their lives to reach trapped victims. The ongoing violence has forced the community to cling to routines such as beach outings and cultural activities to preserve a sense of normalcy.