ZAPORIZHZHIA: A Russian missile has hit a hotel located in the heart of the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. The attack, which occurred on Thursday evening, resulted in the loss of one life and injuries to 16 individuals, as reported by Ukrainian officials. 

According to the national police, the missile, identified as an Iskander, struck Zaporizhzhia at precisely 7:20 p.m. local time (1620 GMT), causing significant destruction. The city has been consistently affected by Russian shelling, and this incident marks another harrowing episode. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his distress, stating, "Zaporizhzhia. The city suffers daily from Russian shelling. A fire broke out in a civilian building after the occupiers hit it with a missile."

Zaporizhzhia Governor Yuriy Malashko provided details on the injured, revealing that among the 16 harmed individuals were four children. The aftermath of the attack revealed a disturbing scene, with images and videos shared by officials showcasing a substantial crater, mangled cars, and a severely damaged four-storey building, prominently displaying a hotel sign.

The hotel in question is identified as Reikartz Hotel, situated in the city centre along the banks of the Dnipro River. Shockingly, this hotel had been a crucial accommodation choice for United Nations staff during their work in the city. Denise Brown, the humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, conveyed her dismay through an email statement, saying, "I am appalled by the news that a hotel frequently used by United Nations personnel and our colleagues from NGOs supporting people affected by the war has been hit by a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia shortly ago. I have stayed in this hotel every single time I visited Zaporizhzhia."