Five early‑morning alarms rattled residents of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s administrative capital, as glide bombs pummeled the city’s suburbs.

Anna Holovchenko, a local IT specialist, said she woke at 5 a.m. to the sound of bombs and later saw drones flying over her house in a second wave of attacks. Ukrainian air defences struggled to bring them down.

Since the conflict erupted, the city’s proximity to the front line—only 24 km from Russia’s eastern border—has meant frequent strikes on schools, buses, petrol stations, government offices and residential buildings.

Acting mayor Regina Kharchenko told a BBC interview that during a particularly intense assault she “took cover in the toilet” rather than in a designated shelter, while a Shahed drone exploded nearby, damaging cables and cutting the internet.

Officials have responded by drafting plans for additional shelters and installing anti‑drone nets over the city’s most vulnerable spots. Anti‑shatter film is also being applied to windows in public buildings.

The surge in attacks coincides with Ukrainian forces pushing Russian troops back a few kilometres from the city, but the use of small, lethal first‑person‑view drones—delivered via longer‑range motherships—has enabled Russian strikes across new terrain. These drones operate with mesh networking technology, making them harder to jam and allowing them to travel longer distances.

Local authorities report that Ukraine intercepted 884 Russian drones in the last week of June alone. However, reduced electronic warfare activity—because Ukrainian resources are focused elsewhere—has given attackers the advantage to strike Zaporizhzhia with increasing frequency.

While Russian troops retreat southwards, they advance elsewhere, their progress slowed by a successful Ukrainian campaign against Russian oil refineries, fuel storage and logistics. Nevertheless, the constant threat remains for residents, many of whom are staying in the city despite the danger.

“We’ve got food and fuel,” Anna said, “Why would I leave? Maybe I’m not the easily scared type.” She acknowledges the possibility of leaving but hopes Zaporizhzhia will not become another wrecked city.

“We’re just trying to stay safe and we’re doing all we can to survive until our victory.”