At least 16 individuals lost their lives and over 130 sustained injuries on Friday due to multiple Russian drone attacks on a shopping complex in central Ukraine, as confirmed by authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to retaliate against what he labeled an “act of barbarism.” The incident took place in Kryvyi Rih, which is Zelenskyy’s birth city, with regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha disclosing that 22 children were among the injured. Hanzha mentioned that 29 individuals, including five children, are in critical condition, and shared an image showing black smoke emanating from a large industrial structure.

In an update provided early Saturday, Hanzha noted that nine individuals, including two children, were initially reported missing, and rescue teams were actively working to remove debris from the shopping center. Zelenskyy condemned the assault as “utterly cynical and despicable,” asserting that a second Russian drone hit the shopping complex half an hour after the initial strike in a deliberate effort to target emergency responders.

Describing such attacks as acts of terrorism, Zelenskyy called for global accountability on Russia and affirmed that Ukraine would retaliate. Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, also condemned the shopping center attack, labeling it as a display of Moscow’s extreme cruelty in warfare. She remarked that Russia’s intention is to render Ukrainian cities uninhabitable through such deliberate acts of terror.

Matthias Schmale, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, strongly criticized the tragic impact on civilians resulting from the assault in Kryvyi Rih. He emphasized the importance of upholding international humanitarian law, which prohibits indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, stressing the imperative to safeguard civilians under all circumstances.

In a separate incident on the same day, a Russian drone strike in Ukraine’s southern region of Mykolaiv resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals, including three children, and left a woman injured, as reported by Ukrainian state media on Telegram. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen an escalation in aerial warfare, with both sides engaging in attacks targeting various strategic locations. The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continues to exact a heavy toll on both nations.