Russian drone attack on busy shopping centre kills 14 in Ukraine

What the report says

Russian drones struck a busy shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, a central Ukrainian city and Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, on Friday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 120, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing local officials. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, said the attack hit the city’s largest shopping complex and caused a fire. The reported toll included children among the wounded, and several of the injured were said to be in critical condition.

Zelenskyy condemned the strike as “cynical and despicable,” saying a second drone hit the shopping centre about 30 minutes after the first and arguing that this suggested an effort to catch rescuers and emergency workers. He called the attack a terrorist act and urged stronger international pressure on Russia. Social media video and images showed firefighters and rescue teams operating amid smoke and damaged structures.

Al Jazeera also reported a separate Russian strike in the Mykolaiv region that killed four people, including three children. The outlet said Kryvyi Rih, an industrial city near the front line, has repeatedly been targeted during the war. In broader context, the report noted that Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities have intensified in recent months, while Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian energy and logistics targets.