Russian forces carried out attacks using FPV drones in Zaporizhzhia and surrounding areas, according to the Main Department of the State Emergency Service in the Zaporizhzhia region.

One of the drones struck the gas module of a civilian gas station in the city, sparking a fire that covered approximately 20 square meters.

Another drone targeted the village of Stepnohirsk, hitting a multi-story residential building. The fire affected apartments on the first and third floors, with a total fire area of about 100 square meters.

Local Telegram channels reported that it marked the first known FPV drone attack on Zaporizhzhia.

Given the city’s distance from the front line, it is likely that a long-range drone has been used. A signal relay drone may also have been involved.

The type of the drone has not been confirmed. Observers suggest it could have been a fixed-wing FPV drone rather than a quadcopter-type device.

Protecting cities from Russian terror

Russian terror on civilian targets in front-line areas remains a recurring tactic.

To counter these attacks, Ukrainian forces have begun deploying specialized defensive systems in cities, including electronic warfare and reconnaissance tools.

Militarnyi previously reported on one such system deployed over Kherson in February, operated by the 414th Separate Brigade, known as “Birds of Magyar.”

According to publicly available information, the system serves multiple functions. It intercepts drone video transmissions, enabling real-time tracking of the drone’s direction.

Once the signal is identified, the communication channel between the drone and its operator is jammed, causing the drone to crash.

Identification of Russian terrorists

On March 23, investigative journalists reported having identified Russian commanders responsible for drone attacks on civilians in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The investigation focused on Telegram channels frequently publishing footage of drone strikes on civilians, including “Viking Squad,” “Light at the End of the Tunnel,” “Moses,” and “From Mariupol to the Carpathians”, and named the commanders believed to be involved in the operations.