A Russian double-tap drone strike on a crowded shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih on Friday killed at least 16 people and injured more than 130, including dozens of children, in an attack Ukrainian officials called a deliberate act of terror targeting civilians and rescuers.
The first drones hit the city’s largest shopping center (Soniachna Halereia or Sunny Valley) in the afternoon while it was full of shoppers. Roughly 30 minutes later, as emergency services responded, a second strike—reportedly involving a jet-powered Shahed-type drone—struck again.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, born in the city, condemned the “cynical and despicable” assault and urged international accountability. Local officials reported 23 children among the injured, with several in critical condition; nine people, including children, were initially listed as missing.
Rescue teams from multiple regions worked through the night amid rubble and fire. Ukrainian authorities described the low-altitude approach as intentional and labeled the strikes war crimes.
Russia has not commented specifically on the incident. The attack is the latest in a series of strikes on civilian infrastructure amid the prolonged Russo-Ukrainian war.
International reactions focused on the targeting of a non-military site and the double-tap tactic, which endangers first responders.
Ukrainian leaders called for stronger pressure on Moscow, while the incident fueled ongoing debates about the adequacy of Western military aid, air defenses and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
Casualty figures continued to be updated as searches progressed into Saturday.
The tragedy in Zelenskyy’s hometown has intensified calls for accountability and renewed focus on the human cost of the war, with recovery efforts and official investigations underway.
