Ukraine accuses Russia of 'cynical' strike on shopping centre

Ukrainian officials have condemned what they described as a 'cynical' Russian military strike targeting a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, the eastern Ukrainian city where President Zelensky was born. According to emergency service reports, the attack resulted in at least 15 deaths and left 130 people injured, among them 23 children.

The strike marks another instance of attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, which Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russia of conducting deliberately. The targeting of a shopping centre, typically filled with civilians during operating hours, drew sharp condemnation from Ukrainian authorities who characterised the action as a deliberate attack on non-military targets.

Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region, has been subjected to periodic Russian bombardment throughout the conflict. The city holds particular symbolic significance as President Zelensky's hometown, making such attacks part of broader Russian military strategy in the region.

Emergency responders were mobilised to the scene to assist the wounded and search for survivors among the rubble. The incident underscores the continuing toll of the conflict on Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure across the country.