Deadly Attack on Kryvyi Rih Shopping Centre
A Russian 'double-tap' drone strike on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has killed at least 16 people and injured more than 130, according to various news reports. The attack, described by Ukrainian officials as cowardly and deliberate, has led to an ongoing search for survivors, with nine individuals, including children, still reported missing by the BBC News and Kyiv Post.
The strikes occurred as a series of Russian bombings have impacted Ukraine. The nature of the 'double-tap' attack involved an initial strike followed by a second drone hitting approximately 30 minutes later, reportedly targeting emergency responders, according to DW News and Scripps News.
International Condemnation and Search Efforts
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned the attack as 'terror by design' and threatened Russia with the harshest sanctions yet, as reported by The Guardian. President Zelenskyy accused Russia of a 'cowardly and deliberate' assault on the mall in his hometown, according to Al Jazeera.
Reports on the exact number of fatalities varied slightly among outlets immediately after the incident. While BBC News, The Guardian, Reuters, and The Telegraph reported 16 killed, CNN and The Moscow Times cited at least 15 fatalities, and NBC News, The Jerusalem Post, and Yahoo News Canada reported 14. The number of injured consistently stood at over 130 across multiple reports, including Reuters, CNN, and DW News, with The Jerusalem Post noting 120 wounded.
“A Russian drone strike on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih has killed at least 15 people and injured more than 130, Ukrainian officials say. A second drone hit about 30 minutes later, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a 'double-tap' attack.”
Rescue teams continue to sift through the debris in an effort to locate those still unaccounted for. The BBC News emphasized the ongoing search for survivors following the devastating incident.
Context of Ongoing Conflict
This incident follows previous deadly Russian strikes in Ukraine. France 24 reported at least two people dead on Saturday after earlier strikes, building on a series of bombings that had reportedly killed at least 20 people previously across Ukraine.
The attack underscores the persistent threat of drone and missile strikes faced by Ukrainian cities amid the ongoing conflict.
