Russia unleashed a coordinated wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s southern cities of Odesa and Kryvyi Rih on 21 August, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 100, including dozens of children. The strikes hit a crowded shopping complex in Kryvyi Rih, a railway facility in Odesa, a football‑training base, and other civilian targets, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to order emergency rescue operations.
Kryvyi Rih shopping centre destroyed
According to Daily Sabah and Anadolu Ajansı, a Russian missile struck the Aurora shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, killing 16 people. Ukrainian officials later reported the death toll could be between 14 and 16, with 22 children among the more than 100 injured, as noted by a Facebook post citing Al Jazeera. Ukrainian Pravda said rescue crews were still searching for victims under the rubble, while Ukrinform reported that the fire at the site had been extinguished.
The attack has been described by Ukrainian authorities as a deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, a claim echoed by multiple local outlets. President Zelenskyy, speaking from Kyiv, emphasized that “rescue workers are searching for people under the rubble of the shopping centre” and vowed that “those responsible will be held accountable.”
Odesa region hit by multiple strikes
In Odesa, Russian forces launched a series of missile and drone assaults that wounded at least a 16‑year‑old girl, according to Suspilne News. The attacks also damaged the Aurora distribution centre, hitting emergency vehicles, as reported by The New Voice of Ukraine. A separate strike on the Chornomorets football club’s training base in the Odesa region was confirmed by Ukrainian National News (UNN). Additionally, a railway employee was killed when a ballistic missile hit a railway enterprise in Kyiv, a fact noted by UNN and Ukrzaliznytsia Chairman Yuriy Pertsovskyi.
Further, a Russian Iskander missile and more than 210 drones targeted the Kyiv and Odesa oblasts, according to The New Voice of Ukraine. The widespread use of precision weapons underscores the escalation of Russia’s campaign against Ukrainian civilian and logistical infrastructure.
International reaction and broader context
Estonia’s foreign minister, quoted by Європейська правда, warned that the strike on Kryvyi Rih “aims to break the spirit of the Ukrainian nation.” The comment reflects growing concerns among NATO members about Russia’s strategy of targeting densely populated urban centres to undermine morale.
The attacks come amid a broader Russian offensive that has intensified since the summer, with Ukrainian officials describing the strikes as “massive” and “unprovoked.” The United Nations and several Western governments have condemned the attacks as violations of international humanitarian law, though the Russian side has offered no comment.
“Rescue workers are searching for people under the rubble of the shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, emphasizing the urgency of the humanitarian response.
The Ukrainian government has mobilised additional emergency services and called on international partners for medical supplies and reconstruction aid. As the country continues to grapple with daily attacks, the Odesa and Kryvyi Rih strikes stand out as some of the deadliest single incidents since the war began, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
