Russian Missile Strike on Zelensky’s Hometown Kills 18, Including 9 Children

Conflicts 11:36 05.04.2025

A Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has killed at least 18 people and left dozens wounded, Ukrainian officials have said.

Nine of the dead were children, said President Volodymyr Zelensky, who grew up in Kryvyi Rih. Local officials said a ballistic missile had hit a residential area.

Images showed at least one victim lying in a playground, while a video showed a large section of a 10-storey block of flats destroyed and victims lying on the road.

Russia's defence ministry later claimed a "high-precision missile strike" had targeted a meeting of "unit commanders and Western instructors" in a restaurant, and that up to 85 were killed. It provided no evidence.

Ukraine's military responded by saying that Russia was spreading false information to try to "cover up its cynical crime". It said Moscow had fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead to maximise casualties.

The attack, early on Friday evening, was among the deadliest on Kryvyi Rih since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, and comes as US President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire.

Zelensky wrote on social media that at least five buildings had been damaged in Friday's strike: "There is only one reason why this continues: Russia doesn't want a ceasefire, and we see it."

The head of Kryvyi Rih's defence, Oleksandr Vilkul, said a residential area was hit.

"The missile exploded in the air... to injure more people," he said. "Children were killed on or near a playground."

Serhii Lysak, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk region where Kryvyi Rih is located, said more than 40 people were treated for wounds, and the youngest was only three months old.

Later on Friday, Vilkul reported more explosions, saying the city was under a "mass" drone attack that triggered fires in at least four locations.

He said one elderly woman burned to death in a private house hit by a drone. Another five people were injured elsewhere.

Military chiefs from both the UK and France met Zelensky in Kyiv earlier in the day to discuss plans for foreign peacekeepers to be stationed in Ukraine as part of a potential ceasefire deal.

But there has been little sign of a let-up in the violence.

Kryvyi Rih also came under attack earlier this week when a building in the centre was struck, leaving four people dead.

On Thursday, Russian drone strikes on the north-eastern city of Kharkiv claimed another five lives, local officials said.

France and the UK have accused Russia of dragging its feet on the Ukraine peace deal. UK Foreign Minister David Lammy told reporters at a Nato summit in Brussels that the Russian leader "could accept a ceasefire now, [but] he continues to bombard Ukraine, its civilian population".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Russians knew the American position, "and we will know from their answers very soon whether they are serious about proceeding with real peace or whether it is a delay tactic".

Kryvyi Rih is about 40 miles (70km) from the front line in eastern Ukraine and with a population of 600,000 it is reputed to be the longest city in Europe.

Madina Mammadova//EDnews

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

IEPF issues statement sharply criticizing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s remarks regarding the so-called "Armenian genocide"
11:45 26.04.2025
The memory of National Hero Albert Agarunov was commemorated in the Alley of Martyrs
12:54 25.04.2025
Gunduz Karimov: Azerbaijan’s economic development enters crucial stage
12:46 25.04.2025
Jeyhun Bayramov welcomed Kaya Kallas bilateral meeting begins
12:33 25.04.2025
The Soul of Tradition Awakens: “Mugham” Television Competition Kicks Off
12:26 25.04.2025
Azerbaijan-Georgia relations: cooperation that serves regional and global interests
12:19 25.04.2025
An event dedicated to the "Year of Constitution and Sovereignty" of Azerbaijan was held in Kars
12:09 25.04.2025
Days of Azerbaijani Culture in Kyrgyzstan ended with a jazz concert
11:58 25.04.2025
Sustainable Agriculture Investment Forum to be held in Baku
11:50 25.04.2025
President Ilham Aliyev received the OSCE Secretary General
11:47 25.04.2025
A working meeting was held between Defense Ministries of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan
11:29 25.04.2025
An international conference dedicated to the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Academician Zarifa Aliyev will be held
11:20 25.04.2025
Entrepreneurs visited the Alley of Honor and the Alley of Martyrs
11:15 25.04.2025
Vaccines imported to Azerbaijan meet WHO safety standards
11:06 25.04.2025
Azerbaijan and Latvia have doubled the number of permits for international transportation
11:00 25.04.2025
President Ilham Aliyev received Vice-President of the European Commission Kaya Kallas
10:54 25.04.2025
Baku to host IATA's Aviation Energy Forum
10:44 25.04.2025
NGOs from over 110 countries gather in Baku for Global South NGO Platform
10:35 25.04.2025
Cooperation with Azerbaijan creates new opportunities in the field of space
10:32 25.04.2025
Prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan-China were discussed,a joint statement was signed
10:30 25.04.2025
Azerbaijani, Czech diplomats mull situation in Syria
10:29 25.04.2025
Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan route will become part of transit to Europe with Azerbaijan's participation
10:18 25.04.2025
" The Declaration signed in Astana opens a new page in Azerbaijani-Chinese relations"
10:07 25.04.2025
The film "On Distant Shores" was restored in Berlin
10:03 25.04.2025
Holy Mass for the soul of Pope Francis held in Baku
09:58 25.04.2025
A peaceful protest was held in Washington against the lies of the "Armenian genocide"
00:21 25.04.2025
The village of Jahangirbeyli is being rebuilt
13:05 24.04.2025
The strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and China is reaching a qualitatively new stage
12:48 24.04.2025
Leyla Aliyeva met with students at Beijing Foreign Studies University
12:33 24.04.2025
Armenia might resort to military provocation against Azerbaijan with France's support
12:23 24.04.2025
"China has become Azerbaijan's 4th largest trading partner"
12:23 24.04.2025
"We have sincere feelings for Azerbaijan"
12:13 24.04.2025
Pakistan ready to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan in peaceful space exploration
12:12 24.04.2025
China and Azerbaijan build comprehensive strategic partnership: messages from the country's leaders to the world
11:51 24.04.2025
Azercosmos to sign up to 10 Memorandums within the Space Technologies Conference
11:37 24.04.2025
Members of the world-famous ''NomadMania'' travel club are in Fuzuli
11:22 24.04.2025
President Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to China's CGTN TV channel in Beijing
11:11 24.04.2025
A book of condolences was opened at the Italian Embassy in Baku on the death of Francis
11:07 24.04.2025
Trainings for government officials responsible for communications organized in Baku Media
10:56 24.04.2025
"Azerbaijani Cinema Days" to be held in Turkiye
10:44 24.04.2025
Hamısı