Russians attack Kryvyi Rih: dozens injured, fatalities reported
Russians launch missiles at Kryvyi Rih (t.me/dsns_telegram)
This morning, July 31, the Russian occupiers attacked Kryvyi Rih with two missiles, resulting in dozens of people injured, fatalities reported, and people possibly trapped under the rubble.
Below is the full report on the attack on Kryvyi Rih.
Main updates:
- Russians fired 2 missiles at Kryvyi Rih (preliminary, ballistic missiles). They hit an economic college and a 9-storey residential building.
- Four people were killed (including a 10-year-old child) and 43 were injured. Three people (including one child) were rescued. 30 people were evacuated.
- The media have already reported 5 deaths.
- There may still be people under the rubble, and the search and rescue operation will continue up until night. Psychologists are on duty at the scene.
- A total of 230 people and 57 vehicles are involved in the search and rescue operations, including 85 rescuers and 22 vehicles from the State Emergency Service.
Explosions before air raid
Early in the morning of July 31, residents of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region were woken up by powerful explosions, prompting the region to issue an air raid alert. The Ukrainian Air Force had issued warnings about a potential ballistic missile threat from Russia.
Russia launched two missiles, likely ballistic ones
Following the attack, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko revealed that Russian forces had fired two missiles at the city. One struck a four-story educational institution, identified as an economic technical college, while the other demolished a section of a nine-story residential building, igniting a fire. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames and rescue survivors trapped under the debris.
Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, said that preliminary information pointed to the use of ballistic weaponry by Russia during the attack. Ballistic missiles are known for their high-speed and destructive capabilities, posing a huge threat to civilian areas.
Dozens injured, fatalities Reported (data being updated)
As of 10:15 AM, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), one person was confirmed dead, and 10 residents sought medical assistance due to the attack. However, the number of casualties is rapidly rising:
- The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) reported one fatality and 15 injured, including a 10-year-old child.
- The MIA said that 20 individuals had sustained injuries, with 2 fatalities already reported. About 5 to 7 people remain trapped under the rubble.
- The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine also confirmed 2 fatalities and reported 25 injured.
- Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, reported that 2 people had been killed, and 31 others injured, including 4 children.
- Olexander Vilkul, Chairman of the Defense Council of Kryvyi Rih, informed that the number of injured had increased to 34, with the possibility of up to 8 people still trapped under the rubble.
- Rescuers and the local administration report that there are 4 dead (including a 10-year-old child) and 43 injured in Kryvyi Rih. The SESU rescued 3 people, including a 10-year-old child, and evacuated 30 people.
- Meanwhile, the media reported 5 victims.
Civilian infrastructure targeted
Ukrainian MIA chief, Ihor Klymenko, emphasized that the technical college was relatively unoccupied at the time of the attack. However, a nearby café had civilians inside, and the National Police unit stationed in the area also suffered casualties. The incident highlights the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and non-combatants by Russian forces.
Evacuation and resettlement likely to happen for people from the attacked building
The first section of the four-story residential building was entirely destroyed, with reinforced concrete structures and flooring likely compromised. MIA officials are considering evacuating the residents from this building for safety reasons. The technical college, hit by another missile, was also heavily damaged, leaving it in ruins.
Rescuers clear the rubble and extinguish the fire
According to Olexandr Khorunzhiy, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the area affected by the residential building fire spans 70 square meters and has been contained. Rescue teams, consisting of 230 personnel and 57 units of equipment, including 85 members and 22 vehicles from SESU (including two psychologists), are tirelessly working to extinguish the flames and clear the rubble.
President Zelenskyy's comment
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the attack, stating, "This terror will not frighten us or break us." He also shared a video showing the aftermath of the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih.
"Monday morning. Regions of Ukraine are being shelled by the occupiers, who continue to terrorize peaceful cities and people. Kryvyi Rih, Kherson. Residential buildings, a university building, a crossroads were hit. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded. There may be people under the rubble. My condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones because of Russian terror," Zelenskyy wrote in his post.
Zelenskyy assured the public that rescue and emergency services were actively working on-site.
"Rescuers and all necessary services are on the ground and working. We are trying to save as many people as possible. I have already spoken to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine. Deputy Head of the Presidential Office for Regional Policy Oleksiy Kuleba and the RSA heads are already dealing with the situation. In recent days, the enemy has been stubbornly attacking cities, city centers, shelling civilian objects and housing. But this terror will not frighten us or break us. We are working and saving our people."
