On Monday, two Russian missiles struck a residential building and university complex in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least six people and multiple injuries. Ukrainian officials confirmed the attack and stated that more than 20 people were hospitalized as a result of the missile strike.
The incident occurred just a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a strong warning, indicating that there could be further attacks inside Russia. This warning followed a series of apparent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory, indicating that Ukraine was intensifying its efforts to retaliate against Russians. However, the Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih once again demonstrated the devastating impact on civilian lives.
Serhii Lysak, the head of the region’s military administration, confirmed that six people were killed, and 75 others were injured in the attack. He also provided updates on the injured individuals, with more than 20 of them being hospitalized for their injuries.
President Zelensky shared a video footage from the scene showing smoke engulfing a building with a significant hole in its upper floors. He later revealed that the Iskander ballistic missiles were used in the attack, resulting in the tragic deaths of a 10-year-old girl and her mother.
In addition to the missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, Russian forces also shelled numerous towns and villages along the front line, including the southern port city of Kherson. Four people were killed, and 17 others were wounded in the shelling, according to Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential office.
Ukrainian military officials highlighted that Russia’s attacks were not limited to the front line, with strikes on key logistical routes such as bridges and roads connecting the occupied Crimean Peninsula to southern Ukraine and Russia. These strikes disrupted Russian resupply and redeployment efforts.
President Zelensky’s recent statements and Ukraine’s military intelligence agency indicate a shift in strategy to bring the war closer to Russians, abandoning the previous policy of strategic ambiguity. They emphasized that until the Russian forces withdraw from Ukrainian territory and are held accountable for their actions, no place within Russia is safe from potential strikes.