At least five people were killed and 67 injured after a Russian strike hit a shopping centre in Pavlohrad, Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, officials said. The attack took place during the daytime when the area was crowded, according to Ukrainian officials. Shops and vehicles were damaged in the strike, while emergency workers were deployed to deal with the aftermath.
Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said eight of those injured were children, while three teenage boys were also among the casualties.
What Happened In Pavlohrad?
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi said the strike occurred while the streets were busy with people. Images released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service showed firefighters tackling burning vehicles and thick smoke following the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike and said Russia had used drones against civilians near shopping centres. He also said Ukraine expected decisions on additional international support, particularly measures to strengthen its air-defence capabilities.
Ukraine Accuses Russia Of Targeting Civilians
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attack as part of Russia’s strategy to pressure Kyiv into making concessions. According to Ukrainian officials, repeated attacks on civilian areas are intended to create fear and exhaustion among the population. Pavlohrad, a major logistics hub near Dnipro, has previously been targeted in Russian attacks. Two people were killed in a strike on warehouses in the city last month, Ukrainian officials said.
Shopping Centres Targeted Across Ukraine
The Pavlohrad attack comes after several other shopping centres were targeted in Ukraine in recent days. A Russian strike on a shopping mall in Sumy on Wednesday reportedly killed two people and injured 20. Another Russian attack in the city the following day left eight people injured, including three children.
In Zaporizhzhia, a shopping mall was heavily damaged in a Russian air strike on Monday. The facility was reportedly closed at the time, and no casualties were immediately reported. Last month, Ukrainian officials said Russian drones struck a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih, killing at least 16 people and injuring around 130.
Russia Reports Ukrainian Attacks
Russia has also reported attacks by Ukrainian forces on its territory and areas under Russian control. Russian officials said Ukrainian naval drones struck the resort city of Sochi overnight on Wednesday, injuring 28 people, including two children. Other deaths were also attributed by Russian authorities to Ukrainian attacks. Officials further reported a Ukrainian drone strike in Novy Oskol, Belgorod region, that killed one person and injured six others.
A separate Ukrainian attack in Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia was also blamed for the deaths of a 15-year-old girl and a man.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Efforts
The latest escalation comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue to face difficulties. Envoys appointed by US President Donald Trump held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Zelensky in Kyiv over the weekend. However, the discussions have so far produced limited concrete progress towards a peace agreement.
The Russia-Ukraine war has continued since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
