Russian Missile Strike on Playground in Kryvyi Rih Kills 20, Including 9 Children

As the Ukrainian city mourns its dead, Russia denies targeting civilians, claiming a military hit despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

A ballistic Iskander missile launched from Russia's Taganrog region struck a playground in Kryvyi Rih on Friday, killing 20 people, including 9 children, and injuring 90 others.
The attack has been condemned internationally, with the United Nations calling it a 'reckless disregard' for civilian life and the worst attack on children since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Russia's Ministry of Defense falsely claimed the strike targeted a military meeting, but local officials, eyewitness accounts, and video evidence confirm only civilians were present.
The playground has become a site of mourning, with flowers, toys, and memorials left to honor the victims, as families and communities hold funerals and grieve the loss of their loved ones.
Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has faced repeated Russian strikes since January, with local leaders describing the attack as an assault on Ukraine's future.