‘They started bombing us with drones’: Russian attacks unnerve Zaporizhzhia

What the report says

Russian attacks are making life increasingly precarious in and around Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian region that has long served as a place of refuge for people fleeing the war. In an Al Jazeera report published on 7 November 2026 from Zaporizhzhia, displaced resident Volodymyr described escaping a drone attack on his village of Preobrazhenka after taking shelter in a cellar and suffering burns to his arms and hands. He has since stayed in a shelter for displaced people in the regional capital.

The article says villages south of Zaporizhzhia have faced escalating strikes, including a 2 November attack on Komyshuvakha in which nine Russian glide bombs killed at least 50 people, according to local officials cited by Al Jazeera. The report also describes continued drone, missile and artillery threats, with some civilians and aid recipients among those affected. Residents and authorities say the pattern of attacks is forcing more evacuations and increasing the risk that even shelters in Zaporizhzhia may no longer be safe.

Local officials are responding by installing anti-drone netting over streets, shops and other infrastructure, while preparing contingency plans to move shelters if conditions worsen. The report highlights how everyday life is changing, with drone detectors, netting and jammers becoming more common. It also notes that some residents are reluctant to leave because of age, limited mobility or a wish to remain near home. More broadly, the situation reflects how front-line warfare is pressuring urban centers that once appeared relatively secure.