Russian troops on Saturday launched a devastating missile attack on the town of Vilniansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, killing seven people, including three children, and injuring at least 31, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

Vilniansk, a town with a pre-war population of nearly 15,000, is located approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Zaporizhzhia. The attack occurred in broad daylight on a weekend, striking an area where civilians were spending their leisure time.

Several explosions followed an air raid alert in the region. According to the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Police, Russia launched two missiles at Vilniansk, damaging a critical infrastructure facility, a store, and residential buildings. The impact caused fires in commercial premises, houses, and vehicles.

Governor Fedorov condemned the attack, noting the absence of military infrastructure in the targeted area. "The attack took place in broad daylight on a weekend in a place where people were spending their leisure time downtown. Without any military infrastructure," he said.

In a post on Telegram on Sunday, Fedorov confirmed that three children and four adults were killed. The State Emergency Service reported that eight children were among the injured. The rescue operation concluded at around 8 p.m. local time.

President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the tragedy, stating: "Our cities and communities suffer from such Russian strikes every day. But there are ways to overcome this—by destroying the terrorists where they are, eliminating Russian missile launchers, hitting them with long-range weapons, and increasing the number of modern air defense systems in Ukraine."

Vilniansk and other settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast frequently endure Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line. Over the past day, Russian troops attacked seven settlements in the oblast 314 times, according to the governor. (ILKHA)