A double-tap drone strike targeting a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih resulted in significant casualties and injuries, according to regional authorities. The attack, which officials characterized as occurring in two waves, killed at least 15 people and wounded 130 others, with 23 children among the injured. The second strike appeared to target emergency responders who had arrived at the scene following the initial impact. Rescue efforts were ongoing, with concerns that the death toll could increase as search and recovery operations continued.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the daytime assault, which took place in his hometown, characterizing it as a deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and emergency personnel. Video evidence verified by international media showed the second drone striking the already-damaged facility in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Regional officials reported that search teams from multiple Ukrainian regions were deployed to assist local rescue efforts. Some individuals remained unaccounted for in the aftermath of the strike.
The attack on Kryvyi Rih occurred amid broader military operations across Ukrainian territory. Additional Russian strikes in other regions during the same period resulted in four deaths in Mykolaiv and two in Kharkiv, while three civilians were injured in Zaporizhzhia. These strikes followed a major Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv the previous day that killed 17 people and damaged residential buildings, educational facilities, and a children’s hospital.
Ukrainian forces reported conducting strikes against Russian targets, including an oil refinery and military airfield located within Russian territory. Ukraine has escalated attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and supply facilities in recent months, asserting they constitute legitimate military targets due to their contribution to Russia’s war efforts. Russia’s military did not provide immediate comment on the shopping centre strike.
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