A two-wave drone strike on the Sonyachna Halereya mall in Kryvyi Rih resulted in 15 deaths and 130 injuries, with a second strike targeting emergency responders.
Key facts
- •The attack targeted the Sonyachna Halereya mall, described as the largest in Kryvyi Rih.
- •The second wave of drones struck the site 30 minutes after the first hit.
- •A total of 130 people were wounded, with 23 children among the injured.
- •Russian forces previously struck Kryvyi Rih on August 16, damaging industrial plants including ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih.
- •The Russian Defense Ministry has previously cited military use of private facilities to justify strikes on Ukrainian businesses.
Russian forces launched a two-wave drone attack on the Sonyachna Halereya shopping mall in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, according to local officials. The strikes caused a major fire and resulted in 15 confirmed deaths. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the second wave of drones targeted rescue crews arriving at the scene half an hour after the initial impact.
By the numbers
Casualties and ongoing rescue efforts
Ukrainian authorities report that 130 people were wounded in the attack, including 23 children. Of the injured, 29 individuals are in serious condition, among them five children. Officials noted that these casualty figures may change as search-and-rescue operations continue.
Official responses and claims
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as an act of terrorism. Human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians. Conversely, Russian war correspondent Yury Kotenok alleged that the mall's warehouses were being used to support the Ukrainian armed forces, a justification the Russian Defense Ministry has previously employed for strikes on private businesses.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Meduza (English).
