Russian Drones Hit Shopping Mall in Ukraine 14 Dead

Deadly Drone Strike Hits Kryvyi Rih

Russian drones struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 14 people and injuring 121 others, according to local Ukrainian authorities. The casualties included 22 children. Emergency crews continued rescue and recovery operations after the attack.

Zelenskyy Calls Attack a Terrorist Act

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike and described it as a terrorist attack. He said the attack appeared to involve a second wave of drones after the initial strike, raising concerns that rescue operations may also have been placed at risk. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would respond to the attack.

Heavy Civilian Casualties Reported

Kryvyi Rih is the hometown of Zelenskyy and has repeatedly come under Russian attacks since the full-scale war began in February 2022. Friday's strike caused major damage and triggered a large emergency response. The city had already experienced deadly attacks during the conflict, including a 2025 strike that killed 20 people.

Attack Follows Deadly Kyiv Strike

The shopping mall attack came only a day after a major Russian aerial assault on Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities said that attack involved missiles and drones and killed at least 16 people. Large-scale Russian air attacks have increased during the summer as Ukraine continues to face pressure on its air-defence capabilities.

Ukraine Reports Intercepted Russian Drones

Ukraine's Air Force said it had shot down or suppressed 107 of 135 Russian drones launched overnight. A separate Russian drone attack in the Kharkiv region reportedly killed two women and injured two other people. The continuing attacks have added to concerns over civilian safety across several Ukrainian regions.

Ukraine Also Carries Out Long-Range Strikes

Ukraine has also intensified long-range drone attacks against targets inside Russia. Ukrainian officials said drones struck an oil refinery in Russia's Perm region and a military airfield in Volgograd region. Russian authorities separately reported intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones over several regions.

Russia-Ukraine War Continues to Escalate

The latest attacks show the continuing escalation of long-range warfare between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have increasingly relied on drones to strike military, industrial and infrastructure targets far from the main battlefield. The conflict has now entered another period of intense aerial attacks, while diplomatic efforts to end the war remain uncertain.