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The toll from a recent missile attack in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, has tragically increased to 18 fatalities, which includes nine children, according to regional governor Serhii Lysak. The incident occurred on Friday and left another 61 individuals injured, with victims ranging from an infant of just three months to senior citizens. Currently, 40 people remain hospitalized, among them two children in critical condition and an additional 17 in serious condition.
In a somber response, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the local defense council, expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “There can never be forgiveness for this. Eternal memory to the victims.” Kryvyi Rih holds a special significance as the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
President Zelenskyy reported on Telegram that the missile struck close to residential buildings, directly impacting a playground and ordinary streets. Local authorities noted that around 20 apartment buildings sustained damage, as well as over 30 vehicles, an educational facility, and a restaurant.
The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed responsibility for what it described as a high-precision missile strike targeting a restaurant where meetings with military unit commanders and Western instructors were occurring. They assert that the attack resulted in the deaths of 85 military personnel and foreign officers, alongside the destruction of 20 vehicles; however, these claims remain unverified by independent sources. The Ukrainian General Staff has dismissed these assertions.
In a subsequent drone strike on Kryvyi Rih, one woman was killed and seven others were injured. This ongoing violence has prompted President Zelenskyy to attribute the relentless attacks to Russia’s refusal to seek peace, stating, “Every missile, every drone strike proves Russia wants only war.” He has urged Ukraine’s allies to increase pressure on Moscow and enhance Ukraine’s air defense systems.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy expressed disappointment with the U.S. Embassy’s response to the missile strike. Ambassador Bridget A. Brink expressed her horror on social media, recounting that more than 50 individuals were injured and 16, including six children, lost their lives, stating, “This is why the war must end.”
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Zelenskyy, who has historically had a challenging relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, found the U.S. Embassy’s post to be “unpleasantly surprising” for its lack of direct attribution to Russia as the aggressor. He remarked, “Such a strong country, such a strong people — and such a weak reaction. They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed children.” He did, however, commend certain countries, including Japan, Britain, Switzerland, and Germany, for making principled statements regarding the ongoing conflict.
He asserted, “Yes, the war must end. But in order to end it, we must not be afraid to call a spade a spade.”
On another front, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces launched 92 drones into Ukraine overnight, with air defenses successfully intercepting 51 of them. An additional 31 decoy drones also failed to reach their intended targets.
In the Russian-occupied town of Horlivka, located in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, one person lost their life on Saturday due to shelling, as confirmed by Moscow-installed Governor Denis Pushilin. Russian state news sources reported that security officials had allegedly destroyed 28 Ukrainian drones in the Donetsk area overnight, marking a significant escalation in the targeting of occupied territories with long-range strikes.
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www.cbc.ca