Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned global leaders against remaining indifferent following a Russian air raid that struck his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, resulting in 18 fatalities.
In his nighttime video message on Saturday, Zelensky stated that this strike represents one of the most tragic episodes for Kryvyi Rih,
On Saturday morning, the president provided further information regarding the nine children who lost their lives due to the attack. Among those who died were 3-year-old Tymofij, 7-year-old Arina, and 9-year-old Herman, as stated by Zelensky on X.
Nine individuals also lost their lives when a Russian ballistic missile struck the southeastern city of Kryvyi Rih, succeeded by a drone assault, according to Zelensky.
Zelensky stated that the attack struck a regular street within a residential neighborhood containing a playground, stores, and a restaurant. According to him, 62 individuals were wounded, among them 12 children, and several remain in serious condition.
The President of Ukraine expressed gratitude to foreign ministers and embassies for their expressions of sympathy following Friday’s attack. Nevertheless, he mentioned that the reaction from the US embassy was “unexpectedly disheartening.”
"They are even afraid to say the word 'Russian' when talking about the missile that killed children," Zelensky wrote.
On a post on X, the U.S. ambassador to Kyiv, Bridget Brink, conveyed her shock over the incident where "a ballistic missile hit close to a playground and restaurant in Kryvyi Rih."
“Remaining quiet about the reality that Russia is murdering children using ballistic missiles is both incorrect and perilous,” Zelensky stated in his video message. “This merely encourages the vile individuals in Moscow to perpetuate the conflict and persistently dismiss diplomatic efforts.”
Moscow has acknowledged the assault but referred to it as a " precision strike" that targeted Ukrainian leaders and their Western advisors. The Ukrainian General Staff in Kyiv countered this assertion via a Telegram message, labeling Russia’s statement as false.
Photos of the attack site released by Ukraine did not indicate any presence of military objectives.
