A deadly overnight assault on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia left at least one person dead and over 30 others injured, just hours after Kyiv sealed a critical minerals agreement with the United States.
The city, located in southeastern Ukraine, came under intense aerial bombardment late Thursday in what officials described as one of the most aggressive drone and missile strikes in recent weeks. Civilian infrastructure was hit hard, with emergency services confirming that a residential apartment block partially collapsed, trapping occupants beneath the rubble.
Authorities reported that rescue teams worked through the night and into early Friday to pull survivors from the debris. Among those rescued were a child and two adults, according to emergency response officials.
“We Were Covered in Dust and Blood”
Serhiy, a resident of the damaged building, recalled the chaos moments after the strike.
“I was thrown across the room by the blast. Everything went dark, and all I could hear was my wife screaming. We were covered in dust and blood,” he told local reporters.
Ukraine’s emergency services said more than 30 people sustained injuries in the attack, including a two-month-old baby. Medical teams treated the injured on-site while others were transported to hospitals.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, accusing Russian forces of “once again targeting innocent civilians in a deliberate act of terror.”
“This was not a military base or a weapons depot,” Zelenskyy said in a national address Friday morning. “These were family homes. Children, parents, grandparents – all targeted simply for living in Ukraine.”
Electricity, Heating Knocked Out in Major Sections of the City
Ivan Fedorov, governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, reported widespread power outages following the attack. An energy substation was destroyed, cutting off electricity to over 20,000 households. Heating infrastructure was also damaged, affecting around 17,000 residents amid still-chilly spring nights.
“Russia continues to wage war not just on our army but on our way of life,” Fedorov said. “They want to freeze us, frighten us, and break our spirit. But we remain standing.”
Ukraine’s Air Force said the assault involved a barrage of 92 Shahed-type attack drones and at least four ballistic missiles. Air defense systems managed to intercept 57 of the drones, but some penetrated the defenses and struck urban areas.
U.S. and Ukraine Sign Landmark Mineral Resources Deal
The timing of the attack is particularly notable, coming just hours after Ukraine signed a long-anticipated agreement with the United States granting U.S. firms access to strategic mineral deposits across the country.
Under the terms of the deal, Ukraine will open up exploration and extraction rights for resources like lithium, graphite, and rare earth elements—materials considered essential for electric vehicles, defense technologies, and renewable energy systems.
The agreement also establishes a 50-50 joint investment framework, in which both U.S. and Ukrainian stakeholders will co-finance mining and processing operations. Washington is expected to contribute funding through redirected military support, rather than direct financial aid.
Ukrainian officials hailed the pact as a step toward economic resilience and energy independence.
“This agreement will help us rebuild our economy on our terms,” said Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. “It is not just about minerals; it is about sovereignty and sustainable growth.”
Strategic Response to China’s Dominance in Critical Resources
Analysts say the deal is a strategic win for both sides. For the U.S., it marks a significant move to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled mineral supply chains. For Ukraine, it represents a rare opportunity to capitalize on its natural wealth amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
“The U.S. wants to secure its industrial future without relying on adversarial nations, and Ukraine needs investment,” said Dr. Petro Kalashnyk, a geopolitical analyst in Kyiv. “This deal checks both boxes.”
However, Kalashnyk cautioned that “on-the-ground challenges” may complicate implementation. “Ukraine still faces logistical hurdles, war risks, and the need to modernize its geological data,” he said.
Russia Criticizes Deal, Ukraine Defends Sovereignty
Kremlin officials were quick to condemn the mineral agreement, suggesting it amounted to a fire sale of Ukraine’s natural wealth.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev took to social media to claim that “Ukraine is repaying the U.S. for weapons with its future.”
Kyiv dismissed the criticism. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy emphasized that all contracts will retain Ukrainian oversight and ownership, and that profits will be reinvested into national reconstruction efforts.
“There is no loss of sovereignty,” the spokesperson said. “What we are losing is time, and this deal helps us gain ground.”
Zelenskyy Calls for Security Guarantees
While praising the mineral pact, President Zelenskyy emphasized that economic agreements must be paired with meaningful security arrangements.
“Infrastructure is nothing without protection,” he said. “We welcome this deal, but we also need guarantees that ensure our resources and our people are safe.”
Talks are reportedly ongoing between Kyiv and Washington over expanded defense assistance and long-term security frameworks, particularly as Russia continues to escalate aerial attacks on urban centers.
A Nation Under Fire, Yet Moving Forward
The Zaporizhzhia attack is the latest in a string of Russian offensives targeting Ukrainian cities amid the ongoing war that began in February 2022. While frontline battles continue in the country’s east and south, strikes on civilian targets have increased in recent months.
Still, Ukrainian officials say they are determined to press forward—not just on the battlefield, but in diplomacy, trade, and recovery.
“We won’t let missiles dictate our destiny,” said Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna. “Every agreement we sign, every investment we attract, is a blow to Russia’s attempts to isolate and defeat us.”
As emergency crews clear rubble in Zaporizhzhia, many Ukrainians are once again left to mourn the cost of war while clinging to hope for a more secure and self-reliant future.
