A Russian missile strike on a busy shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has killed at least six people and wounded 91 others, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack, which took place in broad daylight, has left nine people unaccounted for, with emergency crews working through the rubble into Saturday morning.
Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been a frequent target of Russian strikes throughout the war. Saturday's attack hit a commercial centre that was crowded with shoppers, many of them women and children, local authorities said.
Rescue efforts continue
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported in an update on Saturday morning that nine people remain missing following the attack. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams using cranes and thermal imaging equipment to comb through the debris. The death toll is expected to rise as workers reach the most heavily damaged sections of the building.
Regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram that the strike had caused a large fire and that rescuers were battling to contain it while extracting survivors. He described the attack as "another act of terror against civilians" and urged residents to heed air-raid warnings.
Ukraine's air force said the missile was launched from a Russian aircraft operating over the Black Sea. It was the latest in a series of strikes that have targeted urban centres far from the front lines, raising concerns about the effectiveness of Ukraine's air defences.
The attack comes as rescue work continues in Kryvyi Rih following previous strikes on the city. In recent weeks, Russian forces have intensified their use of ballistic missiles and drones, often striking in daylight to maximise casualties.
European leaders have condemned the assault. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called it a "blatant violation of international humanitarian law" and reiterated the bloc's support for Ukraine's self-defence. The attack also drew sharp criticism from the United Nations, which said that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime.
Kryvyi Rih, a steel-producing city of around 600,000 people, has been hit repeatedly since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The city's industrial base makes it a strategic target, but Saturday's strike on a shopping mall underscores the indiscriminate nature of Russia's campaign.
Local hospitals reported that many of the injured were in serious condition, with doctors working around the clock to treat shrapnel wounds and burns. The health ministry said it had dispatched additional medical teams to the city.
The attack has also renewed calls for more Western air defence systems. Ukraine has repeatedly asked its allies for additional Patriot batteries and longer-range interceptors to protect its cities from such strikes. UN aid officials have warned that Russian drone and missile attacks are crippling humanitarian operations across the country.
In a related development, NATO scrambled jets after a Russian drone crashed in Romania, highlighting the spillover risks of the war for neighbouring EU and NATO members. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, has heightened tensions along the alliance's eastern flank.
As rescue teams continue their painstaking work, the people of Kryvyi Rih are once again mourning the loss of innocent lives. The city's mayor, Oleksandr Vilkul, said in a statement that "every strike on a civilian object only strengthens our resolve to resist."
The international community has vowed to hold those responsible to account. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Russian officials over war crimes in Ukraine, and Saturday's attack is likely to be added to the growing list of evidence.
