At least 16 people were killed and 130 wounded on Friday when a Russian drone strike hit a busy shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown. Regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported that 22 children were among the wounded, with nine people, including two children, considered missing as rescuers continued to clear rubble.
Zelensky described the attack as "absolutely cynical and despicable," stating that a second drone struck the shopping center about 30 minutes after the first. He characterized the strikes as a deliberate attempt to target emergency services and "terrorist acts," urging the international community to hold Russia accountable. "We will definitely respond," Zelensky said on Telegram.
Footage shared on social media depicted the Russian drone flying over the city before impacting the shopping center, resulting in a large explosion. Videos from inside the building showed civilians attempting to evacuate as smoke filled the area, and images captured injured individuals receiving medical attention.
This strike occurred amid an escalation of air attacks between Russia and Ukraine. On Thursday, a Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv killed 17 people. In a separate incident on Friday, a Russian drone strike in Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv region killed at least four people, including three children.
Ukraine has also increased its own strikes on Russian territory, targeting oil facilities and logistics infrastructure. According to Ukraine's air force, the country shot down or suppressed 107 out of 135 drones launched by Russia overnight. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's Belgorod region reportedly killed one person and wounded four others.
Analysts suggest that the long-range strikes by both sides have intensified as ground forces struggle to achieve significant advances along the roughly 780-mile front line in eastern and southern Ukraine. Drones and ground robots reportedly restrict troop movements, posing threats to infantry and vehicles.
In the past year, Ukraine has developed and deployed its own long-range drones for strikes deep within Russia, aiming to make the Russian public feel the war's consequences and pressure President Vladimir Putin into peace negotiations. However, Putin has shown no indication of halting the invasion.