Two Russian drones struck a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih on Friday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 120, including 22 children, as Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of deliberately targeting emergency responders with a second strike.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
At least 14 people were killed and more than 120 others wounded Friday when two Russian drones struck a shopping center in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The daytime attack hit the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and left 22 children among the injured.
Regional Gov. Oleksandr Hanzha said 29 of the wounded were in serious condition, including five children.
“There are 29 people in serious condition, including five children,” Hanzha wrote on Telegram.
Hanzha also released an image showing thick black smoke rising from a large industrial-style building following the strikes.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of intentionally carrying out the second attack after emergency personnel had begun responding to the first.
According to the Ukrainian president, a second Russian drone struck the shopping center approximately 30 minutes after the initial impact, which he said was intended to hit emergency services arriving at the scene.
Zelenskyy described the attack as “absolutely cynical and despicable.”
“Attacks like these are nothing less than terrorist acts,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
He called on governments around the world to hold Russia accountable for the strike.
The Kryvyi Rih attack came one day after another deadly Russian assault on Ukraine.
Seventeen people were killed Thursday when a Russian ballistic missile struck Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.
The two attacks underscore the continuing intensity of Russia’s aerial campaign as the war approaches 4½ years of fighting.
Russia has increasingly relied on missiles and drones against targets throughout Ukraine while ground combat continues along the front lines.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has expanded its own long-range attacks inside Russia.
Ukrainian forces have targeted Russian oil facilities and logistics infrastructure in an effort to disrupt fuel supplies, transportation networks and other resources used by Moscow to sustain its military operations.
Friday’s attack in Kryvyi Rih nevertheless produced one of the latest large civilian casualty tolls, with authorities reporting more than 120 wounded in addition to the 14 fatalities.
The number of seriously injured victims, including children, raised the possibility that the casualty figures could change as medical personnel continued treating those hurt in the strikes.
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