Zelensky Vows Revenge After Deadly Russian 'Double-Tap' Strike in Hometown
Zelensky Vows Revenge After Deadly Russian 'Double-Tap' Strike in Hometown
Ukraine's President Zelensky pledges retaliation after a devastating 'double-tap' Russian drone strike on a shopping mall in his hometown, Kryvyi Rih, kills 16. The attack targeted emergency responders. #UkraineWar
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has vehemently vowed retaliation after a horrific "double-tap" drone strike orchestrated by Russia targeted his hometown of Kryvyi Rih. The attack, which struck a bustling shopping mall, tragically claimed the lives of 16 individuals, with search and rescue operations still desperately underway for nine missing people, including two children. More than 130 individuals were wounded in the daytime assault, with 22 children among them, and 29 people remain in serious condition.
The particularly egregious aspect of the attack was its two-wave nature. The initial strike was followed approximately half an hour later by a second, deliberately targeting emergency workers who had rushed to the scene to assist victims. President Zelensky condemned this act as "absolutely cynical and despicable," calling it an "act of barbarism" and a "terrorist act." He emphasized that such actions demonstrate a clear intent to inflict maximum casualties and psychological terror, urging the global community to hold Russia accountable for these atrocities.
Regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha provided grim details, highlighting the severe injuries sustained by many, especially children. Rescue teams from various Ukrainian regions have converged on Kryvyi Rih, tirelessly sifting through the rubble of the devastated shopping center in hopes of finding survivors. Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul echoed the President's outrage, describing the attackers as "animals" and noting that the Russian drones flew at "extremely low altitudes" to evade detection.
Following the deadly strikes, President Zelensky renewed his impassioned plea for enhanced air defense systems from international partners. In a message shared on social media, he underscored that "Every day that Ukraine lacks sufficient air defense means casualties that could have been prevented." He stressed that protecting lives demands "daily decisions and effective support from the world," calling for immediate new supplies of ballistic missile defenses. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, also condemned the attack as "terror by design" and threatened Russia with the "harshest sanctions yet," signaling mounting international indignation over the escalating brutality of the conflict.
