Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine| A devastating Russian missile strike on the evening of April 4 has left the city of Kryvyi Rih reeling, as at least 18 people — including nine children — were killed and more than 70 others injured in one of the deadliest attacks on Ukrainian civilians in recent months.
The ballistic missile, identified as an Iskander—a short-range missile capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometers away—slammed into a residential area near a children’s playground in Kryvyi Rih, the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The attack occurred during the early evening hours when families were gathered at home, and children were playing outside.
The blast reduced portions of five apartment buildings to rubble, ignited parked vehicles, and sent plumes of smoke rising across the skyline.
Rising Casualty Numbers and Harrowing Losses
Emergency rescue operations concluded late Friday after hours of intense search efforts through the debris. Authorities confirmed that 18 people had been killed, nine of them children.
At least 74 individuals were injured, with 37 still receiving treatment in hospitals across the city.
Among the youngest victims was three-year-old Tymofii, whose parents were nearby when the missile struck.
Local reports revealed that Tymofii was found with a faint pulse but later died despite desperate resuscitation efforts by paramedics. His grieving mother, Valeria, shared the heartbreaking update on social media.
Another child, seven-year-old Radyslav Yatsko, was killed while returning home with his family. He was seated behind his father in the family car when the missile’s main shockwave hit.
His father, Rodion, remains hospitalized, while his mother, Anastasia, and baby sister, 8-month-old Adelina—injured by shrapnel—are recovering at home under medical supervision. The children’s grandmother is also hospitalized.
Zelenskyy: “Russia Wants Only War”
President Zelenskyy strongly condemned the attack, calling it a calculated act of terror. In a statement accompanied by photographs of the aftermath, Zelenskyy declared that Russia has no genuine interest in peace and continues to pursue violence instead of diplomacy.
“Russia does not want a ceasefire, and we see it. The whole world sees it,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Every missile, every attack drone proves that Russia wants only war. And only the world’s pressure on Russia—along with all efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and military—will determine when this war ends.”
He emphasized that global powers, especially the United States and European Union, must intensify their efforts to force Russia to abandon its campaign of terror.
“We need peace,” he urged. “And peace can only be achieved through united global resolve.”
War Crime Allegations and International Reactions
Ukrainian officials, including local police in Kryvyi Rih, have described the missile strike as a deliberate war crime, aimed not at military targets but civilians, including children.
Investigators are gathering forensic evidence and eyewitness testimonies to support future international prosecutions.
The United States, while continuing diplomatic efforts to mediate an end to the war, has expressed frustration at Russia’s refusal to commit to a full ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that ongoing Russian attacks undermine any prospects for sincere peace negotiations, saying that Washington would soon determine “whether Moscow is truly interested in ending the conflict—or simply buying time through false dialogue.”
Kryvyi Rih Defense Council: Rescue Efforts Concluded
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, confirmed the end of emergency operations and thanked rescue teams for their tireless work in the face of tragedy.
“The heart of our city is broken, but our spirit remains unshaken,” he said in a press briefing.
The attack has left a city mourning its children and grappling with the physical and emotional toll of war.
Amid burned-out cars and crumbling homes, residents continue to dig through the wreckage of their lives—bearing witness to yet another chapter in a war that shows no sign of ending.
As Ukraine calls for more international support and Russia pushes forward with its aggressive tactics, the people of Kryvyi Rih—and the world—are left to confront the human cost of a war now etched into the shattered playgrounds of a once-peaceful city.
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