In the Kosmicheskyi district of Zaporizhzhia, a Russian FPV drone attacked a passenger bus that had stopped at a public transport stop. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement by Mikhail Semikin, acting head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration. According to the official, civilians were inside the bus who were "simply going about their business," and the drone hit the vehicle right at the stop. Semikin emphasized that the Russian military once again targeted not a military object, but peaceful passengers.
Timeline and circumstances of the attack
The attack took place on September 17, 2026. A small aircraft drone (FPV drone) flew up to the stop and struck the bus, which was carrying passengers. Immediately after the impact, injured people were recorded at the scene, and medical assistance began to be provided to them. Regional authorities stated that they are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of roads, public transport, and residents from attacks by Ukrainian, in their wording, "Russian" drones.
Contradictory data
The number of casualties in official statements changed as information arrived from medical facilities. Initially, Semikin reported three injured. Later, this figure was revised: first to five injured, one of whom was in critical condition, and then to eight people — four men and four women. Thus, several versions of the number of injured are recorded in open sources, reflecting the step-by-step refinement of data, rather than a contradiction in the fact of the attack itself, which has been confirmed by all parties.
Condition of the injured
According to the latest data, all eight injured have been hospitalized and are receiving the necessary medical care. One of the victims is in critical condition, and doctors are doing everything possible to stabilize his health. Regional authorities called for no speculation on the condition of the patients and to await official information from the medical services.
Context: a series of strikes on Zaporizhzhia
The attack on the bus became part of an ongoing series of strikes on the city. On the night of September 12, 2026, a Russian drone struck a residential area of Zaporizhzhia: as a result, a house was destroyed, fires broke out, and two people were killed. On September 11, the city was also subjected to a drone attack — then a 32-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son were injured, and civilian facilities were damaged. These events underscore a persistent threat to the civilian population and the region's transport infrastructure.
