At least 16 people were killed and more than 130 wounded after several Russian drones struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack took place during the daytime in the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
At least 16 people were killed in the drone strike. More than 130 people were wounded.
22 children were among the injured, according to the regional governor. The attack struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih.
Zelenskyy condemned the strike. He alleged that a second drone targeted the site after emergency responders arrived.
The attack comes amid intensified Russian and Ukrainian aerial strikes.
Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said that 22 children were among those injured in the attack.
Zelenskyy condemned the strike, describing it as "absolutely cynical and despicable". He said a second Russian drone struck the shopping centre around half an hour after the first attack.
According to Zelenskyy, the second strike appeared to have deliberately targeted emergency responders who had arrived at the scene following the initial attack.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The high civilian casualty toll highlights the continuing risks faced by civilians as aerial attacks intensify across Ukraine. The reported presence of children among the wounded has further heightened the humanitarian impact of the strike. The incident also comes amid a wider escalation in long-range drone and missile attacks by both Russia and Ukraine.
Emergency services were deployed to the site following the strikes as authorities dealt with casualties and damage caused by the attack.
The latest incident comes amid an intensification of aerial attacks between Russia and Ukraine as the war continues.
On Thursday, a Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv killed 17 people, according to the supplied Ukrainian account.
Ukraine has also increased its attacks inside Russia, targeting oil facilities and logistics infrastructure as Kyiv seeks to disrupt Moscow's ability to sustain its military operations.
The latest exchange of strikes highlights the continuing intensity of the conflict, with both sides using drones and missiles against targets far from some of the main battlefield areas.
