Zaporizhzhia, A Key Southern Ukrainian City, Faces Renewed Russian Assault

Russia’s full-scale invasion initially saw parts of the Zaporizhzhia region fall under its control.  While Ukrainian forces halted the advance and reclaimed ground in 2023, the latter part of 2024 has brought a renewed Russian offensive. Now, Zaporizhzhia, like other frontline cities such as Kharkiv and Sumy, is enduring unrelenting aerial bombardment.

Russia’s renewed focus on Zaporizhzhia comes as no surprise. As one of Ukraine’s largest cities—fifth by area and sixth by population, with over 700,000 residents before the invasion—it holds significant strategic and economic value. The region also ranks among Ukraine’s top ten by GDP.

An industrial powerhouse

Zaporizhzhia is a major industrial hub. Before the full-scale war, the region ranked among Ukraine’s top three exporting regions, boasting significant metallurgical and machinery manufacturing sectors. Products from these industries were key exports to global markets.

The region is home to numerous major enterprises, including:

• Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works: A leading producer of cold-rolled steel, iron, and pig iron, accounting for one in five tons of Ukraine’s metal production.

• Zaporizhzhia Ferroalloy Plant: A major producer of ferroalloys.

• Dniprospetsstal: A manufacturer of specialty steels.

• Zaporizhzhia Titanium-Magnesium Plant: Producing titanium ingots.

• Motor Sich: A global leader in aviation engine production, supplying industrial gas turbine units and aviation engines worldwide.

The war severely disrupted the region’s economy, as Russian naval threats and the closure of ports in the Black Sea halted exports. Ukraine resumed some trade routes in 2023, after securing the safety of civilian vessels in the Black Sea by pushing back the Russian fleet.

Before the invasion, metallurgical and machinery manufacturing, along with agriculture, were Ukraine’s three largest export sectors, with Zaporizhzhia contributing significantly to this economy. The partial restoration of trade routes has helped revive some of the region’s economic activities.

An energy and resource hub

Zaporizhzhia is also a critical energy center for Ukraine. The region hosts two major power plants:

• Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar, Europe’s largest nuclear facility with a capacity of 6,000 MW, now under Russian occupation since 2022. The Kremlin has used the plant for nuclear blackmail.

• Dnipro Hydroelectric Station (Dnipro Dam): Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric power plant, with a capacity of 1.5 MW, which has sustained Russian missile strikes causing damage to its generating facilities.

The Zaporizhzhia region holds mineral deposits worth an estimated $600 billion, primarily in ores. Its warm climate and access to water resources also make it a significant agricultural center, particularly for fruit farming.

Zaporizhzhia’s geographic advantages include access to the Dnipro River, once Ukraine’s main navigable waterway, and the Sea of Azov. Before Russian occupation, the ports in Berdyansk and other locations played vital roles in trade. Proximity to the Kherson region and Black Sea ports further simplifies logistics and boosts the region’s trade potential.

The renewed Russian offensive

Russian forces have resumed attacks on Robotyne, a settlement Ukraine liberated during its 2023 counteroffensive. Robotyne lies just 70 km from Zaporizhzhia. While experts suggest it is nearly impossible for Russia to reach the city, Ukraine’s military administration is actively fortifying defenses in the area.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized the need for more military equipment, artillery shells, air defense systems, and expedited delivery of Western aircraft to protect cities like Zaporizhzhia from Russian airstrikes.

Approximately 70% of the Zaporizhzhia region currently remains under Russian occupation. Since the full-scale invasion began, Russia has destroyed or damaged over 15,000 civilian structures in the region. In October alone, more than 1,000 civilian infrastructure sites were affected by constant attacks.