Kryvyi Rih after strike - Destruction, victims, government response

Key points

• 18 people have died, including 9 children

• Over 50 injured, with significant destruction

• The strike hit a residential area

• A help headquarters has been set up

• This is the second strike on Kryvyi Rih in recent days.

Ballistic strike: What happened in Kryvyi Rih

The strike hit a residential neighborhood, including a restaurant where people were present. A powerful shockwave damaged at least five buildings, with reports of broken windows, burning cars, and garages.

As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, the enemy struck directly at a street, at an area with residential buildings. Local authorities pointed out that the strike occurred near a children's playground.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned that the attack took place when people were returning from work, and children were playing on the playgrounds.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, noted that, preliminarily, Kryvyi Rih was attacked by an Iskander ballistic missile.

Updated at 09:20 PM Kyiv time

It is currently known that around two dozen multi-story buildings, more than thirty cars, educational institutions, and public catering establishments have been damaged.

Victims and injured

As of 9:00 PM, 14 people have died, including six children. Over 50 people have been injured, including teenagers and adults in critical condition. The number of casualties is constantly increasing.

"Doctors are fighting for every life. Many of the injured are in surgery. Preliminarily, more than 30 people are in medical facilities. Among the wounded are children. The youngest is 3 months old," reported Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.

Updated at 10:00 PM Kyiv time

The death toll has reached 16. According to updated information, more than 40 people have been injured.

Updated at 00:00 AM Kyiv time

The number of dead has reached 18, including 9 children, and 56 people have been injured.

Reaction of Kryvyi Rih authorities

A help headquarters has been set up near the site of the strike. As reported by the head of the city's military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, the headquarters is located in a nearby school, though the exact address is not disclosed for security reasons. All emergency services are working, evacuation is underway, and accommodation is being provided for the victims. People are being asked not to leave shelters until the air raid alert is over.

Photo: emergency services at the strike site in Kryvyi Rih (t.me/dsns_telegram)

Photo: emergency services at the strike site in Kryvyi Rih (t.me/dsns_telegram)

Photo: emergency services at the strike site in Kryvyi Rih (t.me/dsns_telegram)

"We are setting up the help headquarters in the nearest school. It's visible. Construction materials will be available in half an hour. Only approach after the air raid alert is over! There may be more strikes," Vilkul added.

Zelenskyy's reaction: 'Russia is killing children'

The President of Ukraine reacted to the tragedy, calling the strike a terrorist act against civilians. He published a photo from the scene of the attack and urged for increased international pressure on Russia.

"Russian strikes every day. Every day people die. There is only one reason why this continues: 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. And only through global pressure on Russia, through all efforts to strengthen Ukraine, our air defense, and our forces — only from this will depend when the war ends," he emphasized.

Photo: aftermath of the strike on Kryvyi Rih (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)

Photo: aftermath of the strike on Kryvyi Rih (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)

Photo: aftermath of the strike on Kryvyi Rih (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)

Photo: aftermath of the strike on Kryvyi Rih (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)

According to him, America, Europe, and all others in the world have sufficient capability to force Russia to abandon terror and war, and this must be ensured.

Context: Second strike on the city in a week

This is already the second missile strike on Kryvyi Rih in recent days. On April 2, the Russian forces attacked a civilian facility, resulting in the deaths of 4 people. By the morning of April 3, the number of injured had increased to 17, with 11 of them hospitalized. One patient was in critical condition, while the others were in stable condition. A child was also in the hospital.

What adds even more cynicism to today's strike is the fact that on April 4, the city had declared a day of mourning for those who died on Wednesday.

The day before, Russian forces launched a massive Shahed drone strike on Kharkiv. There were at least two impacts in the Novobavarskyi district, hitting both private and multi-story residential buildings. As a result of the attack, five people were killed, and about 30 others were injured.