In brief
Russian drones attacked Kryvyi Rih’s largest shopping centre twice in quick succession, killing 15 people and injuring more than 130, including 23 civilians and several children. President Zelensky called the attack “absolutely cynical and despicable,” noting the second strike targeted emergency workers. Rescue teams from four Ukrainian regions rushed to the scene as survivors were trapped in rubble. The incident illustrates Russia’s continued use of unmanned systems in the war and the escalating threat to civilian infrastructure.
At least 15 people have been killed in a Russian double‑tap drone strike on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, a Ukrainian city, officials say.
Another 130 people, including 23 children, were injured in the city’s biggest mall. Many survivors are trapped in rubble, and a total of 15 deaths have already been confirmed, with two more later in hospital.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the daytime attack as “absolutely cynical and despicable” and said it was carried out in “two waves,” with the second strike targeting emergency workers. The BBC‑verified footage shows the second drone hitting the already burning shopping centre.
Rescue teams from four other Ukrainian regions are urgently deployed to search for survivors. Crisis communications highlight the cruelty of drones flying at “extremely low altitudes,” as the attackers were likened to “animals.”
A psychologist is helping survivors after the attack, reflecting the need for mental health support in the aftermath of war-related trauma.
The strike is part of a broader series of incidents this week, with other Ukrainian regions reporting casualties from separate drone attacks. It follows the recent 17‑person casualty toll and 40 injuries from a missile and drone strike in Kyiv’s capital.
Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and the use of drones for military operations intensify the risk to civilian safety and underscore the ongoing volatility of the conflict.
