Russian 'safari' drone and bomb raids intensify fear in Zaporizhzhia

In the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, Russian forces have escalated their air campaign by deploying first-person-view drones and glide bombs that strike civilians, vehicles and public transport. The new wave of assaults, dubbed "safari" strikes by locals, aims to generate widespread fear, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov, who warned that the enemy is prioritising pressure on the civilian population. Businesses such as Kateryna Lahuta’s seafood processing plant have been hit, driving customers away and crippling planning.

Public transport suffers as well; twelve city buses or tramcars have been damaged this year, prompting the transit authority to test drone-monitoring devices and shatter-proof glass. Residents like seamstress Ania Syvova have witnessed drones hit buses, while others, such as government employee Tetiana, endure repeated bombings in their neighbourhoods. Similar tactics are being reported in other frontline cities, including Kharkiv, where mayor Ihor Terekhov called the drone attacks a primary tool of terror.