Impact and Casualties as Russia Strikes Kryvyi Rih on Christmas Eve
Just as residents of Kryvyi Rih were settling down for their Christmas Eve dinner on December 24, Russia launched a brazen attack, selfishly disrupting the holiday peace. This cowardly act is another stain on the ongoing occupation.
As of 07:00, the rescue operations had concluded, revealing grim findings. A rocket strike resulted in one fatality and injured another 17 people, including two children. Despite the efforts of the medical team, a man could not be revived after being extricated from the rubble. A woman, who had spent over four hours trapped, was also hospitalized and diagnosed with a crush syndrome.
In total, 15 individuals were confirmed injured, with ten requiring hospitalization. Four sustained severe injuries: women aged 72, 65, and 42, and a 78-year-old man. The rescue teams worked tirelessly, stopping to listen for possible cries for help.
The damage is extensive. A four-story residential building with 32 apartments was utterly destroyed, and many more multi-story buildings, stores, businesses, and vehicles were damaged. Furthermore, the contact network for public transportation was disrupted.
Dmitriy Lubinets posted photographs showing the devastation, including a heavily damaged building and emergency workers tending to the injured. The area remained on high alert for several hours due to multiple warnings, first in response to potential Shahed drone strikes, and later due to enemy kamikaze drones.
The Dnipropetrovsk regional prosecutor’s office has initiated proceedings for a war crime. Eye-witnesses allege that there are more injured than reported and people are still screaming for help from beneath the debris.
The attack underscores Russia’s ongoing disregard for civilian lives and international law. Stand with Ukraine as they continue to defend their sovereignty and people.
