site.btaUPDATED Zaporizhzhia, Odesa under Missile Attack, Local Authorities Say

Zaporizhzhia and the area around the city were attacked with ballistic missiles from Crimea and aerial bombs, Zaporizhzhia regional military administration head Ivan Fyodorov said. Sirens in the city and district were activated at 9:22 pm. An hour later, sirens went off in Odesa as well, and Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov warned citizens of a potential drone attack in addition to the missiles.

Regional authorities warned residents to stay in shelters and in safe places until the alarm sounded.

A total of 27,764 Bulgarians reside in the Zaporizhzhia region, show census data from 2001. They live primarily in the Prymorskyi, Melitopol, Berdyansk, and Pryazovske districts, which have been under occupation since the conflict began. The initial Bulgarian settlers from Bessarabia arrived in the Pryazovske region between 1861 and 1862.

Odesa Region is home to the third largest community of expatriate Bulgarians, numbering more than 150,000 people, according to 2001 census data. Between 50,000 and 60,000 Bulgarians live in the regional capital, Odesa. Bulgarians in the province are concentrated in the districts of Bolhrad, Izmail, and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi.