The viven of several individuals converged at a playground on a bright Friday evening in Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine.

Kostiantyn Novik, 16, had come with his cousin to spend time with friends. Serhii Smotolok, a 57-year-old welder, was taking a break nearby on a restaurant terrace, enjoying a beer after his workday. Radislav Yatsko, 7, was seated in the back of his parents’ car as they drove away from their country cottage.

In a moment, the vibrant atmosphere turned into chaos: A Russian missile struck close to the playground, showering the area with shrapnel that destroyed everything in its path.

Kostiantyn and his cousin were instantly killed, Kostiantyn’s leg torn apart by the explosion. Mr. Smotolok was struck by missile fragments and bled to death on the terrace. Radislav died as shrapnel removed part of his skull.

The attack on the previous Friday resulted in 19 civilian deaths, including nine children, making it the deadliest strike against children since Russia’s full-scale invasion. The United Nations confirmed the figures. The assault, the most severe in Kryvyi Rih since the start of the war, caused emotional distress throughout Ukraine. The city, which is the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, mourned on Sunday, as Western allies expressed their support.

Despite ongoing peace negotiations, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones, putting civilians at risk.

Russia’s defense ministry asserted that the strike killed 85 Ukrainian and Western military officers gathered at a nearby restaurant. However, The New York Times reviewed security footage, which revealed the presence of women attending a beauty industry event and employees cleaning the room just before the attack.

Ukaine’s bricks and mortar have been regularly damaged by Russian drones and missiles. Two days before the strike, a missile killed four residents.

Residents seek moments of joy amid the hardships, including a group of teenagers who enjoy exercising at the playground.

A witness reported seeing a massive plume of smoke and dust from her apartment. Olga Yaroshenko, 66, was worried about her partner, Mr. Smotolok, who was drinking beer at the restaurant. She witnessed horror at the scene as she arrived, with bodies covered by blankets and cries filling the air. She took solace in a phone call from her partner’s number but was told he was dead by an investigator.

The exact weapon used in the strike remains unclear. The United Nations and local authorities believe it was an Iskander ballistic missile that exploded just above the park, causing shrapnel to rain down.

Only Radislav, from the Yatsko family in the car, was killed during the strike. His parents, an 8-month-old sister, Adeline, and his great-grandmother survived with concussions and scratches. Radislav, a loving boy, cherished his family and animals. At his memorial, his mother lamented the loss of a safe children’s playground.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/world/europe/ukraine-kryvyi-ri-attack.html