russia attacked a civilian plant in Zaporizhzhia: what is known
2 May 10:28
VIDEO
On the night of May 2, 2025, Russian troops launched a massive kamikaze drone attack on civilian targets in Zaporizhzhia. One of the main targets was the Zaporizhzhia Electric Locomotive Repair Plant (ZERZ), an enterprise that specializes exclusively in the repair of passenger electric locomotives and has nothing to do with military infrastructure, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing the official Telegram channel of the national railroad carrier.
“It is a purely civilian enterprise specializing in the repair of passenger electric locomotives. Only in the morning, the State Emergency Service extinguished the fire, and bomb squads are now working,” the Ukrzaliznytsia press service said in a statement.
As a result of the strike, a large-scale fire broke out on the territory of the plant. The fire was extinguished only in the morning, thanks to the efforts of the State Emergency Service. Explosive experts worked at the site for almost a day. Fortunately, the plant’s staff on duty was in a shelter at the time of the attack, and there were no fatalities or injuries.
This is not the first case of a targeted attack on civilian railway facilities. Ukrzaliznytsia stated that such actions are systemic and are viewed as a deliberate attempt to paralyze critical infrastructure and disrupt the logistics of passenger and freight transportation, which is the basis for the country’s rear during the war.
It should be noted that Ukraine’s railroad infrastructure has been a strategic target for Russia since the first days of the invasion. It has been damaged in order to disrupt the supply of weapons, humanitarian aid, evacuation of civilians, and to demoralize the local population.
Massive attacks on civilian infrastructure that is not a military objective violate international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention. Such attacks can be qualified as war crimes if it is proved that the targets were intentional and that there was no military necessity.
“Ukrzaliznytsia and local authorities are calling on international organizations to document these attacks as violations of the laws of war and to increase sanctions pressure on manufacturers and suppliers of drones used by Russia.
What is known about the Russian Federation’s strike on Zaporizhzhia on May 1
According to according to local authorities, the Russians damaged or destroyed 27 high-rise buildings, more than 10 private houses, non-residential buildings, and educational institutions during the attack on the city.
It will take several days to assess the condition of all the damaged buildings. However, overnight, utility companies began to eliminate the consequences of the attack.
As of 7:00 a.m. on May 2, the number of injured residents increased to 29, according to updated SES data. Rescuers pulled three people from the rubble of the destroyed building. The preliminary information about the death of one person was not confirmed – the man regained consciousness.
Psychologists of the State Emergency Service provided assistance to 22 victims, including two children.
What is known about Zaporizhzhia Electric Locomotive Repair Plant (ZERZ)
ZERZ is one of the oldest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, located in the city of Zaporizhzhia. Founded on April 25, 1905, as the Yekaterinininsky Railway Workshops, the plant was originally engaged in the overhaul of steam locomotives and the manufacture of spare parts for cars and steam trains. In 1920, the workshops were reorganized into a locomotive repair plant, and in 1959 the company switched to repairing electric locomotives, finally completing the repair of steam locomotives in 1961.
Today, ZERZ is a joint-stock company whose main activity is the repair and maintenance of railway rolling stock. The plant maintains 11 series of electric locomotives, including CS2, CS4, CS7, CS8, VL80^s, VL80^t, VL80^k, VL82^m, and modernizes CS4 and VL80 series electric locomotives.
The company has a legal address: 2, Zaliznychna Street, Zaporizhzhia. The company is headed by Oleg Viktorovich Nichyporenko. The authorized capital of the company is UAH 73 million 703 thousand 767.
ZERZ also actively participates in public procurement, offering a wide range of services and goods related to the repair and maintenance of railway transport.
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