At least 15 individuals lost their lives and over 130 sustained injuries on Friday after multiple Russian drones targeted a shopping center in central Ukraine, as confirmed by authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the incident as an “act of barbarism” and pledged a retaliatory action. The attack, which occurred in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown, resulted in 22 children among the injured, according to regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha.
Hanzha reported that 29 individuals, including five children, are in critical condition following the daytime assault. Images of black smoke billowing from a large industrial structure were shared by Hanzha. Zelenskyy described the assault as “absolutely cynical and despicable,” highlighting that a second drone strike hit the shopping center 30 minutes later in an apparent effort to target emergency responders.
Characterizing such attacks as acts of terrorism, Zelenskyy called on the international community to hold Russia accountable, stating, “We will definitely respond.” In a separate incident on the same day, a Russian drone strike in Ukraine’s southern region of Mykolaiv claimed the lives of at least four individuals, including three children, and left a woman injured, as reported by Ukrainian state media via Telegram.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify, with Russia increasing its aerial assaults as the prolonged warfare nears its 4-1/2-year mark. In a recent tragedy, 17 people perished in a Russian ballistic missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Meanwhile, Ukraine has also heightened its offensive against Russia by targeting oil installations and logistical infrastructure to disrupt Moscow’s war capabilities. The two nations have been engaged in a full-scale conflict since Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
