Strikes on homes in three oblasts, 7–9 August 2023

What did the days around 9 August 2023 show about the pressure on Ukraine's regions? On 9 August 2023, a Russian missile strike on a residential area of Zaporizhzhia killed at least two people and injured seven others.

The strike followed two others on 7 August 2023, in different oblasts. In Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, an Iskander double tap strike on residential buildings killed at least seven people and injured 88 others. A double tap strike hits the same area twice, which is why the toll from Pokrovsk was so high.

The same day, Russian forces used guided aerial bombs on private houses in Kruglyakivka, Kharkiv Oblast. At least two civilians died and at least five were injured.

What the pattern showed

The three attacks hit three oblasts: Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kharkiv. Each struck places where people lived, whether apartment blocks, private houses or a residential district. Different weapons were used: an Iskander missile, guided aerial bombs and a missile strike in Zaporizhzhia.

For regional authorities, the consequence was a burden that went beyond the casualty counts. Dozens of wounded people, the largest number in Pokrovsk, needed treatment, and damaged homes had to be dealt with. Across the three oblasts, at least eleven people were reported killed and at least 100 injured over the three days.