Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih leaves five dead, several injured: rescue operations completed

As of January 18, the death toll from the Russian strike has risen to 5. This was reported on the air by Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Defense Council of Kryvyi Rih, on Espreso TV.

"As a result of the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih, the number of fatalities has increased to 5. Early in the morning, a young woman aged 22 passed away. Doctors did everything they could to save her life. The operation lasted about 10 hours," he stated.

Earlier, the police of the Dnipropetrovsk region reported that four people had died and 14 were injured as a result of the attack. Additionally, a school building, nearly two dozen private homes, over 10 vehicles, and four apartment buildings were damaged.

As of 7:10 p.m., the police had received 47 reports from victims regarding property damage. In total, two investigative-operational teams and nearly 100 police officers from various departments were involved in addressing the aftermath of the shelling.

The State Emergency Service (SES) added that among the 14 injured were four children.

At 5:04 p.m., the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, Serhii Lysak, reported the completion of emergency rescue operations following the Russian attack on the city.

The attack killed four people and injured nine others. In particular, five people were hospitalized, while the rest were treated on the spot. Four high-rise buildings, 17 private houses and about 10 cars were also damaged.

The official thanked the rescuers, doctors, municipal workers and psychologists who helped the residents after the Russian attack.

Earlier, the head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, Oleksandr Vilkul, said that Russians had killed four civilians with a ballistic missile: three women aged 61, 50 and 43, and a 20-year-old man.

“There are seven wounded. Three of them are seriously wounded, two of them are men and one is in an extremely serious condition. 11 houses were damaged, their windows, roofs, and facades were smashed,” Vilkul added.

At 2 p.m. the head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, Serhiy Lysak, reported the strike on Kryvyi Rih, resulting in at least three deaths. A school and residential buildings were also damaged.

At 12:14 a.m., the Ukrainian Air Force reported a fast-moving target over Kryvyi Rih. Fifteen minutes later, the military warned again about a ballistic missile heading towards the city.

Ombudsman's response

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, described the Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih another crime committed by Russia against Ukraine and international law.

He emphasized that Russia once again violated the Geneva Conventions, which explicitly prohibit strikes on civilian objects and guarantee the protection of the civilian population during wartime.

"Civilian objects — schools, hospitals, residential buildings — cannot be targets. The war waged by Russia is aimed at destroying not only infrastructure but also the lives, rights, and freedoms of Ukrainians," Lubinets stated.

Zelenskyy's reaction

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the families and loved ones of those whose lives were taken by the missile attack on Kryvyi Rih.

"Every such terrorist strike is another reminder of who we are dealing with. Russia does not stop on its own—it can only be stopped by joint pressure. The pressure of everyone in the world who values life," Zelenskyy emphasized.

• On January 15, the Russian army attacked Nikopol with multiple rocket launch systems, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to a man.