Phoenix 24
The second drone arrived when rescuers were already responding, turning an attack on civilians into an even deadlier trap.
KRYVYI RIH, UKRAINE — At least 14 people were killed and more than 120 injured after Russian drones struck a crowded shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukrainian authorities said at least 22 children were among the wounded, while dozens of victims remained in serious condition. Rescue teams continued searching the damaged complex as the casualty count increased throughout the day.
Officials reported that the attack unfolded in two stages, with a second drone hitting approximately 30 minutes after the initial explosion. Emergency personnel and civilians assisting the wounded had already reached the site when the second strike occurred. Ukrainian authorities described the operation as a “double-tap” attack intended to cause additional casualties among rescuers.
Images from the scene showed flames, shattered storefronts and bloodied survivors being evacuated from the shopping center. Zelenskyy condemned the bombing as an act of terrorism and called for stronger international pressure on Moscow. Russia had not immediately issued a detailed public response regarding the specific target or the Ukrainian allegations.
The assault came amid a renewed escalation of long-range attacks, with Russian missiles and drones striking several Ukrainian cities while Kyiv continued targeting military and energy infrastructure inside Russia. Kryvyi Rih, a major industrial city in central Ukraine, has repeatedly suffered deadly bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. When rescuers themselves become targets, war crosses another line that humanity cannot afford to normalize.
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