Russian Missile Strike on Kryvyi Rih Kills 18, Including Nine Children; Over 60 Injured
On April 4, Russia launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile at the city of Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing at least 18 people and injuring 61, according to regional Governor Serhii Lysak. Among the victims were nine children. The missile struck a residential neighborhood, sparking fires and causing extensive damage, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s military administration, reported. A playground was located near the impact site.
More than 40 people remain hospitalized, including a three-month-old infant who suffered cut wounds.
Ukraine’s General Staff condemned the attack, stating early on April 5 that Russia was attempting to "cover up its cynical crime" by falsely claiming the missile had targeted a meeting between Ukrainian military commanders and Western instructors.
Shortly after the strike, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the attack had killed up to 85 Ukrainian and foreign military officers and destroyed 20 vehicles in what it called a “high-precision strike” on a restaurant where a military meeting was allegedly taking place.
Ukraine strongly refuted that claim. "We declare that Russia is again spreading false information," Ukraine’s General Staff said. “The missile hit a residential area and a playground.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky, a native of Kryvyi Rih, condemned the attack, emphasizing the regularity of such strikes. “Russian strikes happen every day. Every day, people are killed. The reason this continues is clear: Russia does not want a ceasefire. And the world sees it,” he said.
Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine’s second-largest city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with a population of around 660,000, lies just 70 kilometers (about 40 miles) from the front line and remains a frequent target of Russian missile strikes.
Despite U.S. efforts to mediate peace, Russia has continued its missile and drone attacks across Ukraine. Kyiv argues that the targeting of civilian areas proves Moscow’s lack of seriousness about ending the war.
On March 11, a 30-day ceasefire proposal brokered by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah was rejected by the Kremlin. Russia agreed only to a limited truce concerning energy infrastructure and operations in the Black Sea.
Ukraine has since accused Russia of violating even that limited agreement, while the future of the Black Sea truce remains uncertain. Moscow has reportedly tied its continued cooperation to the lifting of Western sanctions.
President Zelensky called on the United States and its allies to increase pressure on Moscow, saying the strikes on civilians and critical infrastructure “cannot be accidental.”
“The Russians know exactly what they’re targeting. These are energy facilities protected under promises Russia itself made to the U.S.,” Zelensky said. “We count on America, on Europe, on all our partners—to apply pressure to the only cause of this war: Russia’s intent to destroy and kill.”
On Friday, the Trump administration warned that the U.S. would not support open-ended peace negotiations if President Vladimir Putin continued to stall.
Moscow has rejected a joint U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a full, unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine has accused Russia of prolonging talks while continuing its offensive.
After attending his first NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would determine “within weeks” whether Russia had any real interest in peace.
“Donald Trump is not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations,” Rubio stated, warning that the U.S. could intensify sanctions if Russia continues its aggression. “Congress is already drafting a sanctions bill, and pressure from Capitol Hill is mounting. Our message to Moscow is clear—we want peace, but we’re prepared for consequences.”
Referencing the strike on his hometown, Zelensky said the attack was yet another sign that Russia has no intention of ending the war.
“Russian strikes happen every day. People die every day. There’s only one reason this goes on—Russia doesn’t want a ceasefire. We see it, and so does the world. Each missile, every drone proves Russia only wants war.”
Meanwhile, Russia reiterated its claim that the strike on Kryvyi Rih targeted a military gathering.
“At 18:49, a high-precision strike with a high-explosive missile was carried out on a location where unit commanders and Western instructors were meeting in one of the city's restaurants,” Russia’s Defense Ministry posted on Telegram. “As a result, up to 85 enemy personnel and 20 vehicles were eliminated.”
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