As a result of a Russian attack using unmanned aerial vehicles on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, carried out on the afternoon of August 21, 15 people were killed and more than 120 city residents were injured. This was reported in his Telegram channel by the Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration (RMA) Alexander Gantsev. According to him, by the evening of August 21, the number of deaths had risen to 15, and the number of injured reached 121. Enemy drones attacked the civilian object in two waves, which led to a massive fire and destruction of the building's structures, as evidenced by footage from the scene.

Timeline of the Attack and Strike on a Civilian Object

According to available information, Russian occupiers struck the shopping center in Kryvyi Rih with drones on the afternoon of August 21. The attack was carried out in two waves, which exacerbated the damage and complicated the initial extinguishing of the fire. The targeted object is civilian, which underscores the nature of the strike against infrastructure not related to military activities. Immediately after the first wave of the attack, reports of the dead and wounded emerged within the first few hours; however, as data came in from hospitals and the accident site, the figures were repeatedly revised upwards.

Dynamics of Casualty Figures According to Official Data

Initially, immediately after the attack, there were reports of five dead and more than 50 injured. Later, the Head of the Dnipropetrovsk RMA, Alexander Gantsev, reported that the number of dead had reached 14, and the injured — 121. By 21:40, he updated the data: the number of dead rose to 15. The Head of the Defense Council of Kryvyi Rih, Alexander Vilkul, clarified that among the injured, 29 people are in critical condition, including five children. Thus, over a few hours, the picture of casualties changed significantly, which is typical for situations where some of the injured die in hospitals from their wounds.

Condition of the Injured and Hospital Work

According to Alexander Vilkul, at the time of his statement, there were 8 patients in the operating room, including one child. He also reported that one child — a 14-year-old girl — was transferred to Dnipro. Alexander Gantsev added that the injured are receiving medical assistance and that hospitals are equipped with everything necessary to treat the wounded. The scale of the emergency required the involvement of significant emergency services forces, including fire crews, visible in aerial shots of the fire.

Contradictory Data

There are discrepancies in figures between various sources and at different stages of event coverage. For example, a number of publications at the early stages published information about a significantly smaller number of victims — for instance, one dead and 12 injured — which contradicts subsequent official statements of 14–15 dead and more than 120 injured. These inconsistencies are explained by the fact that early reports recorded only the initial situation before a full assessment of the consequences and before the death of some of the injured in medical institutions. Official data from the regional military administration, updated throughout the day, are the most current and reflect the final picture as of the evening of August 21.

Context and Consequences

The attack on the shopping center in Kryvyi Rih became one of the most serious incidents for the city in recent times, claiming the lives of at least 15 civilians and leaving more than 120 injured, including children. The incident once again highlights the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure to drone strikes and the need to strengthen air defense systems. As of August 22, work is underway to assist the injured and assess the material damage caused to the destroyed object.