--- title: "\"Targeted and Treacherous Strike\": Zelensky Reports 14 Killed in Drone Attack on Shopping Center in Kryvyi Rih" description: "President Zelensky reported 14 dead and more than 100 injured, including 11 children, following a two-wave drone attack by Russia on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih. He called the strike targeted and promised a response." date: 2026-08-21T18:10:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelensky-drone-attack-on-shopping-center-in-kryvyi-rih-14-killed tags: [ukraine, krivoy-rog, drone-attack, zelensky, shopping-mall, russia-war] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "Targeted and Treacherous Strike": Zelensky Reports 14 Killed in Drone Attack on Shopping Center in Kryvyi Rih ![Volodymyr Zelenskyy commenting on 14 killed in drone attack on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/22/zelenskyj-ataka-dronov-na-tc-v-krivom-roge-14-pogibshih/zelenskyj-ataka-dronov-na-tc-v-krivom-roge-14-pogibshih-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - According to Zelensky, 14 people were killed and more than 100 injured, including 11 children, in the Russian drone attack on the shopping center in Kryvyi Rih. - The drones struck in two waves: the second time when rescuers were already working at the scene. - Zelensky called the attack targeted and treacherous, promised a response, and called on the world not to remain silent. - Casualty figures changed over the course of the day: from 5 dead and 50 injured to 14 and 100+ respectively. On the night of August 22, 2026, a massive strike by Russian attack drones hit a civilian object—a shopping center—in Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region). As of the morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported 14 dead and more than 100 injured, including 11 children. The head of state called the attack "targeted and treacherous," noting that the drones struck "one after another." ### Attack Timeline: Two Waves of Strikes According to statements by Zelensky and Ukrainian media reports, enemy drones attacked the shopping center twice. The second strike, he said, occurred at the moment when rescuers and emergency services had already arrived at the scene of the first explosion. This sequence—the "two waves"—became the key argument in assessing the nature of the attack as targeted. A rescue operation is underway at the scene, with all necessary forces deployed. ### President's Reaction and Promise of Retaliation In his address, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that they are "verifying information about everyone who could have been in this shopping center" and called the incident "absolute barbarism." He stated that Ukraine "will definitely respond" to the strike and called on the international community not to remain silent about Russian attacks, adding that "there must be a period at the end of this Russian war." The tone of the statement was one of the sharpest in recent times, reflecting an escalation in rhetorical pressure amid ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure. ### Contradictory Data The casualty figures changed significantly over the course of the day, creating discrepancies in versions at different stages. Immediately after the attack, there were reports of five dead and more than 50 injured. Later, the number of victims exceeded 90, with more than two dozen in critical condition. In Zelensky's final statement, the figures were 14 dead and more than 100 injured, including 11 children. Thus, the discrepancy between the initial and final figures is explained by the influx of information as rescue services worked; however, no official verified summary from the relevant authorities was provided at the time of publication, leaving the possibility for further data adjustments. ### Context and Consequences The attack on Kryvyi Rih became one of the largest strikes on civilian objects in the region during the current period of the conflict. The incident once again raises the question of protecting large shopping and public centers from attack UAVs and the inadequacy of early warning systems. The international community, as before, is called upon to react to attacks on civilian infrastructure; however, no specific new sanctions or security measures in connection with this specific strike have been announced at the time of publication. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - ["Simply beasts." Zelensky promises a response to the strike on the shopping center in Kryvyi Rih](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/prosto-tvari-zelenskiy-poobitsyav-vidpovid-1787335342.html) - Прямая цитата Зеленского: 14 погибших, 100+ раненых, 11 детей; удар нескольких дронов «один за другим». - [Attack drones worked in two waves: Zelensky on the Russian terrorist act in Kryvyi Rih](https://fakty.com.ua/ru/proisshestvija/20260821-udarni-drony-spratsyuvaly-u-dvi-hvyli-zelenskyj-pro-terakt-rf-u-kryvomu-rozi/) - Подтверждает схему атаки в две волны и реакцию президента. - ["Attack drones worked in two waves": Zelensky reveals details of Russia's attack on the shopping center in ...](https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/udarnye-drony-srabotali-v-dve-volny-zelenskiy-raskryl-podrobnosti-ataki-rossii-na-trts-v-krivom-roge-3153206.html) - Подробности двухволнового удара по ТРЦ в Кривом Роге. - ["Cynical and treacherous strike": Zelensky reacts to the attack on the shopping center in Kryvyi Rih](https://24tv.ua/ru/cinichnyj-i-podlyj-udar-zelenskij-otreagiroval-na-ataku-na-tc-v-krivom-roge_n3127788) - Подтверждает оценку атаки Зеленским и факт инцидента. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How many people died in the attack on the shopping center in Kryvyi Rih? **A:** According to President Zelensky, 14 people were killed and more than 100 injured, including 11 children. Initially, there were reports of 5 dead and more than 50 injured. ### Q: How exactly was the strike carried out? **A:** According to Zelensky, attack drones struck the shopping center in two waves, with the second strike occurring when rescuers were already working at the scene. ### Q: What did Zelensky say regarding the attack? **A:** He called the strike targeted and treacherous, stated that Ukraine "will definitely respond," and called on the international community not to remain silent about Russian attacks.