Russian missile hits Ukrainian president’s home city amid mourning

On Wednesday, a missile struck the home city of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a period of official mourning for previous attacks. Local officials reported that Kryvyi Rih was observing a day of mourning for four civilians killed in a hotel attack just the day before, when the new strike occurred.

This latest incident targeted civilian infrastructure and resulted in injuries to eight individuals, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the local administration, who shared the update on social media.

The earlier attack on Tuesday also left five people wounded and was part of an extensive bombing campaign where dozens of missiles and drones were launched across Ukraine over two consecutive days.

Regional head Serhii Lysak condemned the renewed attacks, stating, “When Kryvyi Rih is in mourning, the enemy attacks again. And it once again aims at civilians.”

On Monday, Russia had intensified its bombardment, firing over 100 missiles and an equal number of drones, marking one of its most significant assaults in recent weeks.

This increase in military action coincides with a critical phase of the ongoing war, which began on February 24, 2022. Russian troops have been advancing further into the contested eastern Donetsk region, which remains a primary objective for the Kremlin.

Currently, Russian forces are reportedly closing in on Pokrovsk, a vital logistics hub that supports Ukrainian defenses in the area.

In response to the escalating situation, Ukrainian forces have launched incursions into Russia’s Kursk region. This marks the largest such operation on Russian territory since World War II and is believed to be intended to compel Russia to divert troops from the Donetsk front.

In Kryvyi Rih, rescuers concluded their operations on Wednesday after uncovering one last victim under the debris of the hotel that had been attacked.

Amid these developments, Ukraine’s military claimed that its anti-aircraft systems successfully shot down a Russian Su-25 fighter jet in the Donetsk region.

Ukraine also continued its long-range drone strikes targeting Russian logistical centers. Ukrainian military intelligence reported that it was behind an attack on an oil depot in Russia’s Rostov region.

Additionally, for the first time, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for an assault on the Kirov region in Russia. Kirov governor Alexander Sokolov confirmed that three Ukrainian drones crashed near an oil depot in that area, located approximately 950 kilometers (around 600 miles) from the Ukrainian border.