Ukraine: Russian drone strike on Kryvyi Rig shopping centre kills 16

At least 16 people were killed when Russian drones struck a busy shopping centre in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rig on Friday, according to Ukrainian authorities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “cynical and despicable”.

The strike, which took place in Mr. Zelenskyy’s hometown, is part of an intensified Russian campaign against Ukrainian cities in recent months. Emergency services initially reported 15 dead and 130 wounded, including 23 children, before the regional military administration confirmed the toll had risen to 16.

Videos circulating on social media showed rescuers rushing to assist the wounded as smoke billowed from the damaged building. A second drone struck the roof roughly half an hour after the first, in what Mr. Zelenskyy described as a deliberate attempt to “target emergency responders”.

In a separate attack, four more people, including three minors, were killed in the southern Mykolaiv region, said Interior Minister Ivan Vygivsky on Telegram.

The United Nations has reported that the civilian death toll in 2026 has risen to its highest level since the early months of the war. Kryvyi Rig, an industrial city about 60 kilometres from the front line, has faced repeated Russian strikes throughout the conflict.

Ukraine’s allies are expected to meet on Monday, the country’s independence day, to reaffirm their support. The so-called Coalition of the Willing meeting will be co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. European Council chief Antonio Costa is among around 10 leaders expected in Kyiv, according to an EU official.

Mr. Zelenskyy called for a strong international response. “The world must respond to them accordingly — with real pressure on the aggressor. For peace to be possible, Russia must face real accountability,” he said on X.

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, described the strike as “terror by design” and threatened new sanctions, saying Russia “wants to make Ukrainian cities unliveable”.

Kyiv has repeatedly asked allies for more military support, particularly to intercept ballistic missiles. Ukraine has also escalated its own strikes on Russian territory in an effort to pressure Moscow into negotiations. However, diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked, with Russia demanding sweeping territorial and political concessions that Mr. Zelenskyy has rejected as tantamount to capitulation.

The attack came as Mr. Zelenskyy held a call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the strikes and civilian casualties, the Ukrainian leader said.