At least 15 individuals lost their lives and over 130 sustained injuries on Friday following multiple drone strikes by Russian forces on a shopping center located in central Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as an “act of barbarism” and vowed to retaliate. The assault took place in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown, with regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha revealing that 22 children were among the injured. Hanzha added that 29 individuals, including five children, are in critical condition.
A distressing image of black smoke billowing from a large industrial structure was shared by Hanzha in the aftermath of the attack. Zelenskyy described the incident as “absolutely cynical and despicable,” highlighting that a second drone strike deliberately targeted emergency services shortly after the initial assault. He labeled such actions as terrorist acts and called on the global community to hold Russia accountable, asserting that Ukraine will respond decisively.
In a separate incident on the same day, a Russian drone attack in Ukraine’s southern region of Mykolaiv resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals, including three children, and left a woman wounded. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered its 4-1/2-year mark, with Russia intensifying its aerial offensive, while Ukraine has targeted Russian oil facilities and logistical infrastructure in a bid to weaken Moscow’s war capabilities. The two nations have been engaged in a full-scale conflict since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.