Russia launched a deadly missile assault on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih late today, killing at least 19 people, including nine children. It was one of the most devastating strikes on the city since the war began.
The missile attack obliterated part of a residential district in Kryvyi Rih, injuring at least 72 more people, among them a 3-month-old infant, according to Ukrainian officials.
“There were dead children lying there, crying parents — it was horrible,” a 47-year-old woman named Yulia told Reuters.
Zelensky paid tribute to the youngest victims in an emotional post on Saturday.
“Three-year-old Timofiy, unfortunately, died today in the hospital. Seven-year-old Radyslav. Arina, who will also be 7 forever. Nine-year-old German. Fifteen-year-old Danylo. Fifteen-year-old Nikita. Fifteen-year-old Alina. Konstantin, who will be 16 forever. Nikita is 17 years old,” he wrote Saturday on X of the youngest of the dead.
“There is simply no deeper level of cynicism, vileness, or hatred toward people than what Russia embodies today,” Zelensky added.
The Iskander-M missile strike left a large crater in the city and caused widespread destruction — damaging more than 20 apartment blocks, six schools, over 30 cars, and several shops and restaurants, according to a post by Kryvyi Rih Governor Serhii Lysak.
“This can never be forgiven,” said Oleksandr Vilkul, who leads the city’s military administration, in a message on Telegram.
Russian authorities claimed that the strike killed 85 individuals and targeted a restaurant where Ukrainian military officers and Western advisors were allegedly meeting. These claims were reported by state media.
However, Ukraine’s military dismissed the statement as false and accused Russia of spreading lies to distract from the civilian toll of its actions.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook that the weapon used was designed “to affect a larger area and a larger number of people.”
Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine’s second-biggest city in the Dnipropetrovsk region, has been regularly targeted by Russian attacks throughout the conflict.
Later, a drone strike on the same city killed a 56-year-old woman and injured seven additional people.
In all, Russia launched 92 drones into Ukrainian territory overnight, with 51 of them intercepted by air defense systems, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
“There is only one reason why this continues: Russia does not want a ceasefire,” Zelensky said in a statement Friday. “Every missile, every strike drone proves that Russia only wants war.”
He urged the international community to maintain pressure on Moscow and expressed gratitude to global diplomats for their support, but singled out the U.S. Embassy for its muted response.
“Horrified that tonight a ballistic missile struck near a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi Rih,” Bridget Brink, US ambassador to Ukraine, posted on X Friday.
“This is why the war must end,” she added.
“Such a strong country, such a strong people — and such a weak reaction,” Zelensky responded on X. “They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed children.
“Yes, the war must end. But in order to end it, we must not be afraid to call a spade a spade.”
Brink had spent the day in Kharkiv, visiting U.S.-funded initiatives and inspecting an underground school designed to protect students from Russian attacks, she said in another social media post.
Meanwhile, at a NATO summit in Brussels that wrapped up Friday, global leaders continued to call on Putin to engage with the ceasefire proposal supported by Ukraine and the U.S.
Nations that have pledged to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine if a truce is reached — referred to as the “coalition of the willing” — are expected to reconvene on Thursday at NATO’s Brussels headquarters, the UK’s Joint Delegation to NATO said.