Russia strikes residential area in Zelenskyy's hometown with ballistic missile: Many dead and injured
Illustrative photo: Russian army launched a ballistic missile attack on Kryvyi Rih (t.me/dsns_telegram)
Russian forces launched a ballistic missile attack on Kryvyi Rih on the evening of April 4. Dozens of dead and wounded have been reported, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih's Defense Council, and Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.
What is known about the strike
On Friday evening, an alert was issued in several regions. Ukraine’s Air Force warned of possible ballistic missile launches from the southeast. Around the same time, monitoring channels reported an explosion in Kryvyi Rih.
"The enemy struck Kryvyi Rih. We are clarifying the details. More information to come. Stay in safe places until the all-clear," Lysak wrote.
Consequences of the strike
Local residents began reporting that the Russians struck a public catering establishment, which likely contained a large number of people.
According to Vilkul, the Russians hit the center of a residential neighborhood in the city with a ballistic missile. It is also known that as a result of the strike, high-rise buildings in the city were damaged, and a fire broke out.
Lysak clarified that cars and garages are on fire in the city.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the Russian terror. He shared the first photos from the impact site in Kryvyi Rih.
According to him, at least five buildings were damaged in the city as a result of the strike.
"Russia does not want a ceasefire, and we see this. The whole world sees it. Every missile, every strike drone proves that Russia only wants war," Zelenskyy wrote.
The Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko, stated that the Russians struck Kryvyi Rih with a cluster ballistic missile.
"A Russian cluster ballistic missile, most likely an Iskander. This was a deliberate strike to kill a large number of people," he wrote.
According to law enforcement, the inspection of impact sites in Kryvyi Rih is ongoing. Police are conducting door-to-door checks to see if there are any injured people remaining in the residences.
"The affected area is cordoned off by police officers to ensure public order and protect citizens' property. We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the imposed restrictions," stated Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko.
Information about victims and injured
As of 7:40 p.m., 12 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the Russian strike, including three children. More than 50 people were injured.
“As of now, 12 people have been killed, and more than 50 injured,” Vilkul said.
After some time, Lysak clarified that among the dead were two children.
"Twelve people have died in Kryvyi Rih, including two children. The number of injured is still being clarified," he reported.
Lysak later updated that among the dead were three children. He also stated that the number of victims and the injured continues to rise.
Where to get help
The head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, Oleksandr Vilkul, reported that an assistance centre is being set up in the city. It will be located in the nearest school.
"Building materials will be available in half an hour. Only approach after the air raid is over! More strikes are possible," he warned.
Reaction to the strike
There have already been first reactions to the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih. In particular, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that "Russia is a country that systematically destroys peaceful life."
"It (Russia - ed.) does not choose targets by accident. It hits people. And this is its true face," Lubinets wrote.
The Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, stated that Russia deliberately targets civilians in Ukraine.
"They do not respect the USA or anyone in the world; they want to kill Ukrainians and destroy Ukraine, and they do not want peace. Putin's regime and all of Russia have demonstratively killed people. The fire against civilians should have stopped. Ukraine has long declared that it is ready for this. But Russia rejects all ceasefire proposals and continues to kill people," he wrote.
Attacks on Kryvyi Rih
On April 2, Russian forces attacked a civilian infrastructure facility in Kryvyi Rih using ballistic missiles. According to the latest information, four people were reported killed. A 29-year-old woman, a 35-year-old man, and a 41-year-old man were also injured.
The previous attack on the city took place on March 29, when a missile strike was also carried out. However, there were no fatalities, and it is known that seven people were injured during that attack.
On the night of March 26, Russian forces attacked the city with Shahed-type drones.
