Russian drone strikes largest shopping mall in Zelenskyy's hometown, at least 50 injured
Illustrative photo: Russians strike a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih with a drone (Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration)
On Friday, August 21, Russian forces struck Kryvyi Rih’s largest shopping complex, leaving many people injured, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, and Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.
"The b******* attacked the city’s largest shopping center with an attack UAV. There is a fire, and visually, there are many people injured," Vilkul said.
He added that an emergency rescue operation had begun at the site of the strike.
"The shopping center has been badly damaged. A fire broke out," Hanzha said.
Later, Vilkul reported a second attack on the shopping complex, this time by a jet-powered Shahed drone. He noted that the enemy drones were flying at extremely low altitudes.
He also warned of possible further strikes by Russian forces.
Updated at 05:08 p.m.
Hanzha reported that one person was killed as a result of the enemy strike, while 12 people are currently known to have been injured.
He added that stores inside the shopping center are on fire.
A little later, the head of the regional administration reported that the death toll had risen to two, while the number of injured increased to 15.
Hanzha reported that the number of people injured in the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih has risen to 50. Six children are among those injured.
Recently, Russia struck industrial facilities in Kryvyi Rih. One person was killed, and six others were injured in the attack.
It should also be noted that overnight on August 20, Russia launched a massive combined attack on Kyiv and the Kyiv region. The air raid alert in the capital lasted for nearly nine hours.
Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the overnight attack damaged 30 residential buildings, as well as a school, a hospital and a kindergarten. So far, 15 people are known to have been killed in Kyiv.
In addition, the head of state stressed that the Russian attack was one of the most cynical, calculated and large-scale attacks.
