Ukraine woke up to another day of horror on August 22, 2026, when Russia launched a drone attack on a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, the home city of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The assault left at least 16 people dead and 130 wounded – among them 23 children – according to regional authorities. What makes this attack particularly grim is the 'double-tap' method: about half an hour after the first explosion, a second drone struck the rescue crews who were already on site.
Zelensky's Words: 'Absolutely Cynical and Contemptible'
President Zelensky posted on Telegram that Russian forces sent two waves of drones against the commercial building. The second, he explained, came as firefighters and ambulances were rushing to help. "The Russians carried out an absolutely cynical and despicable attack against an ordinary shopping mall," he wrote on X, calling it an act of terrorism. The city's defense council head, Oleksandr Vilkul, confirmed that drone footage shows the second impact and added that several people are still missing.
Casualties: Critical Condition
The Dnipropetrovsk regional prosecutor's office reported 130 wounded, at least 29 of whom are in serious condition, including a 14-year-old girl with brain trauma and four other children. Eight patients (one minor) have been rushed into surgery, officials said. Rescue crews continue to comb through debris, searching for survivors.
Key Numbers of the Attack
- 16 dead, 130 wounded (23 children)
- Second drone struck 30 minutes after the first
- Target: a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky's hometown
- 29 seriously wounded, several children among them
EU Response: 'Absolute Depravity'
The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, condemned the assault as “absolute depravity” and “deliberate terrorism.” In a social media statement, she said she is working to impose “the most extensive sanctions list against Russia since the start of the war.” Additionally, EU foreign and defense ministers will meet in Dublin on September 1–2 to discuss expanding Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul traveled to Kyiv to show support on the occasion of Ukraine's 35th independence anniversary. He wrote on X that Russian attacks target civilian infrastructure and warned that “Putin will not achieve his goal this winter.”
Rescuers Under Fire: A Dangerous Tactic
Ukraine has repeatedly denounced Moscow's use of the double-strike pattern against first responders. The footage released by Zelensky's office shows thick black smoke rising from the mall and firefighters working inside. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reiterated the urgent need for Patriot interceptor missiles and additional sanctions on Russia's military-industrial complex.
Just one day earlier, Russia staged a massive attack on Kyiv and its surroundings that killed at least 17 people. In total, on the night of August 21–22, Russian forces hit 50 different sites across Ukraine with missiles, drones, and other weapons, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
With information from CNN, Infobae, and news agencies.