A devastating missile strike hit a residential area in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, targeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown.
According to Breitbart London, the attack claimed 18 lives, including nine children, and left 61 people injured, ranging from a three-month-old infant to elderly residents.
Regional governor Serhii Lysak confirmed that forty people remain hospitalized, with two children in critical condition and 17 others in serious condition. The strike damaged approximately 20 apartment buildings, over 30 vehicles, an educational facility, and a restaurant in the area. A subsequent drone attack on the city resulted in one additional death and seven injuries.
The Russian Defense Ministry asserted that the high-precision missile strike targeted a restaurant where Ukrainian military commanders and Western instructors were meeting. They claimed to have eliminated 85 military personnel and foreign officers while destroying 20 vehicles.
Ukrainian officials strongly disputed these claims. The Ukrainian General Staff rejected the Russian military's account, while President Zelenskyy emphasized that the missile struck near residential buildings, hitting a playground and ordinary streets.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defense council, expressed outrage at the attack's civilian toll. The strike's proximity to residential areas contradicted Russia's claims of targeting military personnel.
Russian forces launched an aggressive drone campaign overnight, deploying 92 drones into Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 51 of these drones, while 31 decoy drones failed to reach their intended targets.
The conflict has spread to Russian-occupied territories as well. In Horlivka, located in Ukraine's Donetsk region, one person died from shelling on Saturday. Moscow-installed Governor Denis Pushilin reported that security officials had destroyed 28 Ukrainian drones over the Donetsk region. This marked the first instance of the occupied territory being targeted by such long-range drone strikes, indicating an evolution in Ukraine's military capabilities and strategy.
President Zelenskyy addressed the international community, emphasizing the need for increased support. He pointed to Russia's continued aggression as evidence of their unwillingness to end the conflict.
Ukraine's president delivered a passionate statement regarding the attacks. Zelenskyy said:
The United States, Europe, and the rest of the world have enough power to make Russia abandon terror and war. Every missile, every drone strike proves Russia wants only war.
The Ukrainian leader called for allies to strengthen pressure on Moscow and enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities. The recent attacks have highlighted the ongoing vulnerability of Ukrainian cities to Russian missile strikes.
The missile strike on Kryvyi Rih represents one of the deadliest attacks on President Zelenskyy's hometown, resulting in 18 fatalities, including nine children, and leaving dozens injured. The Russian military's claims of targeting military personnel contrasted sharply with evidence of civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
As the conflict continues to escalate, with increased drone warfare and civilian casualties, Ukraine's leadership emphasizes the critical need for international support to counter Russian aggression. The attack's devastating impact on civilian areas underscores the urgency of enhancing Ukraine's air defense capabilities and maintaining pressure on Moscow to end hostilities.
