Deadly Russian Double-Tap Strike Hits Kryvyi Rih Mall

The Al Jazeera Newsfeed report describes a deadly Russian drone attack on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the report, the attack involved what is known as a “double-tap” tactic: a second strike was launched after the initial attack, reportedly targeting first responders who arrived to assist victims and address the damage. At least 16 people were killed and 130 others were wounded, making the incident a major attack with a significant civilian toll. Ukraine’s president condemned the strike, describing it as a “cowardly and deliberate” assault on the shopping centre. His characterization emphasizes the Ukrainian government’s view that the attack was intentional and designed to cause additional casualties among rescue personnel. The report presents the incident in the context of the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict, where attacks on populated areas and civilian infrastructure remain a central concern. The supplied article is a brief video-news item and does not provide further details about the exact timing of the two strikes, the identities of the victims, the extent of damage to the shopping centre, or Russia’s response to the accusation. It focuses primarily on the reported death and injury figures, the alleged double-tap method, the location of the attack, and the Ukrainian president’s condemnation. The report was published on August 22, 2026.

At least two people were killed in fresh Russian strikes on Ukraine early Saturday, according to local authorities. One person died in a warehouse fire in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district after a ballistic-missile alert, while another was killed in a drone strike on Zaporizhzhia. The attacks came a day after a Russian double-tap drone strike on a busy shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih killed 16 people and injured 130, including 23 children. Ukrainian officials said nine people, including two children, remained missing beneath the rubble of the shopping centre, and warned that the death toll could rise. Twenty-nine of the injured were reportedly in serious condition. Rescue teams from four other Ukrainian regions were being sent to assist with the search for survivors. Video verified by the BBC showed a second drone hitting the mall after it had already caught fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as “absolutely cynical and despicable”, saying it had occurred in two waves, with the second strike targeting emergency workers. Russia’s military has not commented on the attack. Officials also reported four deaths in separate Russian strikes in the southern Mykolaiv region and two in the north-eastern Kharkiv region on Friday. A major missile and drone assault on Kyiv on Thursday killed 17 people and injured more than 40. Ukraine has intensified its own attacks on Russian energy facilities, warehouses and military targets, including an oil refinery and airfield. Kyiv says such sites are legitimate targets because they support Russia’s war effort. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls about a fifth of the country, mainly in the south-east.

Russian drone strikes killed at least 21 people across Ukraine on Friday, including 15 people at a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Regional officials said 130 people were injured in the mall attack, including 23 children. Zelenskyy called the strike a “double-tap” attack, alleging that a second wave of drones arrived while rescuers were responding to the initial damage. He condemned Russia and promised that Ukraine would retaliate. Two additional Russian attacks contributed to the death toll. A strike in the Kharkiv region killed two elderly women and wounded two others, while an attack in the southern Mykolaiv region killed four people, including three children. Ukraine’s air force said it had shot down or suppressed 107 of 135 Russian drones launched overnight. The attacks followed a major Russian assault on Kyiv the previous night that killed 16 people. The article says large-scale Russian attacks have intensified during the summer, with Kyiv particularly affected. The United Nations reported that at least 54 civilians were killed and 202 injured in the capital during July. Analysts attributed Russia’s intensified ballistic-missile attacks partly to Ukraine’s shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air-defense interceptors. Ukraine also carried out attacks inside Russia. A Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s Belgorod region killed one person and wounded four others. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones also struck an oil refinery in Perm and the Marinovka military airfield in the Volgograd region. Russia claimed that its air defenses intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones over multiple regions and Crimea. The article places the attacks in the context of escalating long-range strikes and limited movement along the front line, where drones and ground robots threaten troops and vehicles. Ukraine has increasingly developed long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia, aiming to impose the costs of the war on the Russian public and pressure President Vladimir Putin toward negotiations.

At least 16 people were killed and more than 130 wounded on Friday after several Russian drones struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine and the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack occurred during the daytime and caused extensive damage, with photographs showing black smoke rising from a large industrial building. Regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said that 22 children were among the wounded and that 29 people, including five children, were in serious condition. In an update issued early Saturday, Hanzha said nine people were preliminarily believed to be missing, including two children. Emergency responders continued searching through and clearing the rubble of the shopping centre. The casualties and ongoing rescue operation underscored the scale of the strike and its impact on civilians. Zelensky condemned the attack as “absolutely cynical and despicable” and promised that Ukraine would respond. He also said that a second Russian drone struck the shopping centre about 30 minutes after the initial attack. According to Zelensky, the timing indicated that emergency responders may have been deliberately targeted while assisting victims and dealing with the destruction. The incident was reported amid Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine, including a separate missile strike in Kyiv referenced in an accompanying photograph caption. The report, based on statements from Ukrainian authorities and published by Reuters, presents the attack as a major civilian casualty event involving children, missing people, severely injured victims and an active emergency response. The account does not include a Russian government response or independent verification of the Ukrainian claims.

The Straits Times’ Aug 22, 2026, “While You Were Sleeping” roundup highlights five international developments. The most serious story concerns a Russian drone attack on a busy shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, eastern Ukraine, which killed 15 people and wounded dozens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike as “cynical and despicable,” saying a second drone hit the building about 30 minutes after the first and may have targeted emergency responders. The attack occurred as Russia has intensified bombardments of Ukrainian cities. In Sweden, an 18-year-old man armed with a sword attacked students at Brinell high school in Fagersta. One person was killed and three were injured before police shot and detained the suspect. Media reports said he was a former student at the school. The roundup also reports that Airbus has softened its plan to require white-collar employees to work on-site four days a week. Following strikes and protests by Spanish and French workers, managers may now allow staff to continue working from home an average of two days a week. China is considering whether to bid to host the 2028 United Nations climate summit, COP33, as Beijing seeks to strengthen its reputation as a leader on climate change. However, no final decision or timetable has been established. The final story is sports-related: Arsenal began its Premier League title defence with a 3-0 home victory over newly promoted Coventry City. Kai Havertz opened the scoring, while new signing Christos Tzolis helped create the second goal. Arsenal is seeking to retain the top-flight title for the first time since 1935.