Deadly Missile Strike in Kryvyj Rih Claims 19 Lives, Igniting Outrage
Ukrainian authorities report significant civilian casualties following a Russian missile attack on a residential area.
A missile strike attributed to Russia on the Ukrainian city of Kryvyj Rih has resulted in the deaths of 19 people, among them nine children, and left over 70 others injured.
The attack, which took place late at night, has drawn widespread condemnation from Ukrainian officials and the public.
Serhij Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, confirmed that among the deceased were a three-month-old infant and several elderly individuals.
Current reports indicate that 40 individuals remain hospitalized, with some children reported to be in critical condition.
The missile impacted a residential neighborhood close to a playground, prompting Oleksandr Wilkul, the head of Kryvyj Rih's military administration, to label the strike as a 'mass murder of civilians.' In response, Wilkul announced a three-day mourning period for the victims and referred to the attack as a 'terrorist act by the killer country.'
The Russian military has acknowledged the strike but described it as a 'precision attack' targeting a restaurant where Ukrainian commanders were reportedly convening with Western instructors.
Russian sources claim the operation killed 85 Ukrainian soldiers and foreign personnel, alongside the destruction of about 20 military vehicles.
No civilian casualties were reported on the Russian side.
Evidence from Ukrainian sources, however, has shown that there were no military targets in proximity to the strike area.
The Ukrainian General Staff has dismissed Russian claims as disinformation, asserting that the missile, identified as an Iskander-M ballistic missile, employed cluster munitions to maximize civilian casualties over a wider area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the response from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv for not explicitly attributing the attack to Russia.
He expressed frustration with remarks made by U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, stating, 'Such a strong country, such strong people - and such a weak reaction.' Following the missile strike, Brink voiced her shock over the attack that targeted civilians, although she did not directly name Russia as the aggressor.
Zelensky has previously accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians, pointing to recent attacks on Kryvyj Rih and Kharkiv, as well as a strike on an energy facility in Kherson.
He underscored that despite prior agreements intended to safeguard energy infrastructure, Russian assaults continue unabated, which he believes are aimed at escalating conflict rather than fostering peace.
The strike on Kryvyj Rih fits into a larger context of ongoing attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, including a recent drone raid in Kharkiv that resulted in five fatalities and 34 injuries.
Zelensky has reiterated calls for international consequences in response to Russia's military operations.
The attack, which took place late at night, has drawn widespread condemnation from Ukrainian officials and the public.
Serhij Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, confirmed that among the deceased were a three-month-old infant and several elderly individuals.
Current reports indicate that 40 individuals remain hospitalized, with some children reported to be in critical condition.
The missile impacted a residential neighborhood close to a playground, prompting Oleksandr Wilkul, the head of Kryvyj Rih's military administration, to label the strike as a 'mass murder of civilians.' In response, Wilkul announced a three-day mourning period for the victims and referred to the attack as a 'terrorist act by the killer country.'
The Russian military has acknowledged the strike but described it as a 'precision attack' targeting a restaurant where Ukrainian commanders were reportedly convening with Western instructors.
Russian sources claim the operation killed 85 Ukrainian soldiers and foreign personnel, alongside the destruction of about 20 military vehicles.
No civilian casualties were reported on the Russian side.
Evidence from Ukrainian sources, however, has shown that there were no military targets in proximity to the strike area.
The Ukrainian General Staff has dismissed Russian claims as disinformation, asserting that the missile, identified as an Iskander-M ballistic missile, employed cluster munitions to maximize civilian casualties over a wider area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the response from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv for not explicitly attributing the attack to Russia.
He expressed frustration with remarks made by U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, stating, 'Such a strong country, such strong people - and such a weak reaction.' Following the missile strike, Brink voiced her shock over the attack that targeted civilians, although she did not directly name Russia as the aggressor.
Zelensky has previously accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians, pointing to recent attacks on Kryvyj Rih and Kharkiv, as well as a strike on an energy facility in Kherson.
He underscored that despite prior agreements intended to safeguard energy infrastructure, Russian assaults continue unabated, which he believes are aimed at escalating conflict rather than fostering peace.
The strike on Kryvyj Rih fits into a larger context of ongoing attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, including a recent drone raid in Kharkiv that resulted in five fatalities and 34 injuries.
Zelensky has reiterated calls for international consequences in response to Russia's military operations.
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