Russian Missile Strike Kills 18, Including Nine Children, in Ukrainian President's Hometown

KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine (April 5, 2025) – A Russian ballistic missile struck a residential neighborhood in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, on Thursday evening, killing at least 18 people, including nine children. The attack, which struck the home city of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has drawn international condemnation and renewed calls for increased support for Ukraine.

Devastation in Kryvyi Rih

The missile struck a residential area in the city center, causing widespread damage and setting buildings ablaze. According to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration, a playground was located near the site of the attack. Serhii Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, reported that more than 60 people were injured, including at least 12 children. Forty people remain hospitalized, including a three-month-old boy with cut wounds.

Local officials have declared three days of mourning, April 7-9, for those killed in the attack.

Conflicting Accounts of Target

While Ukrainian officials have decried the attack as a war crime against civilians, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have targeted a meeting of Ukrainian military commanders and Western instructors. The ministry stated that the strike killed up to 85 military personnel and foreign officers and destroyed 20 vehicles.

Ukraine's General Staff has refuted these claims, accusing Russia of spreading false information to cover up a "cynical crime." They maintain that the missile struck a residential area with no military significance.

International Response

The attack has been widely condemned by European leaders, who have expressed their condolences to the victims and their families and reiterated their support for Ukraine. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans called for accelerated support for Ukraine, while European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas described the attack as "tragic and inhumane." Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Lipavsky called the attack "barbarism," noting that a missile had struck a children's playground.

Kryvyi Rih: A City of Industry and Resilience

Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, is a major industrial center in Ukraine and the eighth-largest city in the country. Known as the "steel heart of Ukraine," the city is a vital hub for iron ore mining and metallurgy. Kryvyi Rih is also the longest city in Europe, stretching nearly 100 kilometers.

The city's history dates back to the 17th century when it was established as a concentration of winter homesteads of the Zaporozhian Cossacks. It has since grown into a major industrial center, playing a significant role in Ukraine's economy. The Kryvorizhstal metallurgical complex, now known as ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, is the largest in Ukraine and exports to over 160 countries.

Despite its industrial importance, Kryvyi Rih has faced significant environmental challenges due to pollution from its heavy industries. In recent years, local activists have been working to address these issues and improve the city's environmental conditions.

War's Toll on Civilians

The attack on Kryvyi Rih is the latest in a series of Russian strikes that have resulted in significant civilian casualties. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), Russian shelling, missiles, and drones killed at least 31 civilians in Ukraine between February 22 and 28, 2025, mostly in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Odesa, and Sumy regions.

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) estimates that since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, over 32,735 civilians have been killed or injured by explosive violence in Ukraine. Ground-launched explosive weapons, such as missile strikes and artillery shelling, have caused the majority of these casualties.

The United Nations has also reported that at least 123 civilians were killed and 567 injured in Ukraine in February 2025 alone.

Looking Ahead

The deadly strike on Kryvyi Rih underscores the ongoing human cost of the war in Ukraine. As the conflict continues, the need for humanitarian assistance and international support for Ukraine remains critical. Despite the devastation, the Ukrainian people have shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. The international community must continue to stand with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and protects its citizens.