At least 16 people were killed and more than 130 others injured after several Russian drones struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine, on Friday. The city is the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who condemned the attack and vowed a response.
Among those injured were 22 children, while 29 people, including five children, were reported to be in serious condition, according to regional authorities.
Nine People Reported Missing as Rescue Operations Continue
Regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said rescue teams continued clearing the rubble of the damaged shopping centre. In an update early on Saturday, nine people, including two children, were preliminarily reported missing.
The attack caused extensive damage, with images released by authorities showing thick black smoke rising from the site.
Zelenskyy Calls Attack 'Cynical and Despicable'
President Zelenskyy strongly condemned the drone strikes, describing the attack as an act of barbarism.
According to Zelenskyy, a second Russian drone struck the shopping centre around 30 minutes after the first impact. He alleged that the timing was intended to target emergency personnel responding to the initial strike.
He called for greater international accountability and said Ukraine would respond to the attack.
Children Among Victims in Separate Mykolaiv Strike
The attack on Kryvyi Rih came amid an escalation in Russia's aerial campaign against Ukraine.
In a separate drone strike in Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv region, at least four people, including three children, were killed, while another person was injured, according to Ukrainian state media.
The latest attacks followed a Russian ballistic missile strike on Kyiv a day earlier, which reportedly killed 17 people.
Ukraine-Russia War Enters Another Escalation Phase
As the war continues into its fifth year, Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks across Ukraine. At the same time, Ukraine has increased strikes targeting Russian oil facilities and logistics infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Moscow's military operations.
The situation in Kryvyi Rih remains under close watch as rescue teams continue searching the rubble and authorities assess the full scale of casualties and destruction.
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