Russian strike kills at least 6 at shopping center in central Ukrainian city

Russian drones attacked a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, a central Ukrainian city, on Friday, resulting in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries, according to Ukrainian authorities. Among the 91 wounded were six children, with the rescue operation continuing and the casualty count potentially rising. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as a "double tap," noting an initial wave of drones followed by a second wave once rescue workers arrived.

Zelenskyy called the strikes "nothing less than terrorist acts." Kryvyi Rih has been targeted multiple times during the ongoing conflict, with the deadliest incident in April 2025 claiming 20 lives, including nine children. The attack occurred just 24 hours after a similar Russian assault on Kyiv's capital, which killed at least 16 people.

Moscow has ramped up its ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, taking advantage of Ukraine's shortage of U.S. Patriot air defense interceptors, the only weapon capable of intercepting such missiles. Large-scale Russian strikes have become increasingly frequent this summer, with multiple attacks on Kyiv and its surrounding region resulting in numerous civilian casualties.

The United Nations recently reported that Kyiv was among the worst-affected cities in July, with at least 54 civilians killed and 202 injured.