Ukraine says Russian strike kills 18 in Zelensky’s hometown Kryvyi Rih

KYIV - A Russian missile attack killed at least 18 people, including nine children, in a residential area of the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on April 4, local officials said, but Russia's Defence Ministry said it had targeted a military gathering there.

The Ukrainian military denounced the Russian statement as misinformation.

The strike in President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown was one of Moscow's deadliest in 2025 in the conflict, launched with the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

It occurred as US President Donald Trump tries to end the war, damaged residential blocks and sparked fires, Mr Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The bodies of the dead and wounded could be seen lying on the pavement, one of them by a playground, in unverified videos circulating on Telegram, as grey smoke rose into the sky.

At least 50 people were wounded, the emergency services said, adding that the figure was growing. More than 30 people, including a three-month-old baby, were in hospital, Mr Lysak said.

Mr Oleksandr Vilkul, the city's military administrator, later said Russian drones had later attacked private homes in Kryvyi Rih, triggering fires at four sites. He said an elderly woman had died in her home and five others were injured.

Russia's Defence Ministry, in a post on Telegram, said a "high-precision strike" had targeted "a meeting of unit commanders and Western instructors" in a city restaurant.

"As a result of the strike, enemy losses total up to 85 servicemen and officers of foreign countries, as well as up to 20 vehicles," the ministry said on Telegram

The General Staff of Ukraine's military said Moscow was "again spreading false information".

"Through this latest violation of the norms of international human rights, the insidious enemy shows that it is in no way seeking peace but rather intends to continue its invasion and war to destroy Ukraine and all Ukrainians," it said.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said rescue efforts were still under way in the city. He called on the West to exert greater pressure on Moscow.

"All Russian promises end with missiles, drones, bombs or artillery. Diplomacy means nothing to them," he said in his nightly video address.

"That is why Russia must be put under sufficient pressure so they feel the consequences of every lie, every strike, every day they take lives and prolong the war."

The US said last week it had agreed with Russia and Ukraine two ceasefire accords, including one that would cease strikes on each other's energy infrastructure. The deals were a first such step since Trump took office in January after pledging he would end the war in 24 hours.

Mutual accusations on energy targets

On April 4, each side accused each other again of flouting the agreement.

Russia's Defence Ministry accused Ukraine of attacking Russian energy facilities six times in the past 24 hours.

Mr Zelensky said Russia had launched a drone attack on a thermal power plant in Ukraine's city of Kherson on April 4.

Kyiv says it had earlier agreed to a US proposal for a full unconditional 30-day ceasefire, but Russia rejected such a step in separate talks with U.S. officials.

"We need to put an end to this terror, protect people, and force Russia into peace," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said Russian forces had used a ballistic missile for the Kryvyi Rih strike. Such weapons take minutes to reach their targets and are difficult to shoot down for all but high-end air defences.

Russia denies targeting civilians, but thousands have been killed and injured in its invasion of Ukraine since 2022.

On April 2, a Russian missile struck an enterprise in Kryvyi Rih, killing at least four civilians. Mr Zelensky said Russian drones hit residences on April 3 in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, killing five people and injuring 34. REUTERS