Overview

• A Russian Iskander missile struck a children's playground in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, killing 20 people, including nine children, and injuring 90 others.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense falsely claimed the attack targeted a military meeting, a claim debunked by security footage and eyewitness accounts showing only civilians present.
• The strike is part of a broader pattern of repeated Russian attacks on Kryvyi Rih since January, which have left 32 dead and 173 injured in 12 incidents.
• The playground has become a site of collective mourning, with flowers, toys, and candles left in tribute to the victims, described as a devastating loss of the city's future.
• International leaders and organizations, including the UN, have condemned the attack as a reckless act of violence against civilians, intensifying calls for accountability and stronger protections for Ukraine.