In the heart of Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, grief and indignation swept through the community as residents gathered to lay to rest some of the 20 victims—including nine children—killed by a Russian missile that struck residential areas and a playground. The devastating strike last Friday left over 70 people injured, as young lives were shattered while playing in a tranquil park.
“We do not seek pity,” declared Oleksandr Vilkul, the city’s administrative head, urging global condemnation through a message on Telegram as the city mourned. The attack was identified by the UN Human Rights Office in Ukraine as the deadliest single verified strike impacting children since Russia’s wide-scale invasion began in February 2022, also marking one of the deadliest incidents of this year.
Although Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire suggested weeks prior by Washington, Russia remains in dialogue with the United States about the conditions required to endorse such a truce in this protracted conflict. President Donald Trump has expressed irritation with President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing aggression, emphasizing the need for cessation. During his campaign, Trump promised a swift end to the conflict. On Sunday, he stated, “We’re dialoguing with Russia. We want them to halt the fighting.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Monday that Putin is amenable to the ceasefire proposition from Trump, although contingent on addressing Russian terms. “President Putin indeed supports the ceasefire concept, but numerous questions need answering first,” Peskov stated.
In the town of Kryvyi Rih, 59-year-old instructor Iryna Kholod reminisced about Arina and Radyslav, both age seven and victims of Friday’s assault, describing them as “joyful little rays of sunshine in the classroom.” Radyslav had displayed pride in participating in a school project that collected pet food for stray animals, gripping the bag as if it were a prized possession due to his eagerness to contribute, Kholod shared.
Following the tragic event, Kholod lamented, “two desks in my classroom will remain empty forever,” highlighting that she still possesses unopened birthday presents meant for them. The emotional toll leaves her questioning how to broach the subject of returning textbooks or educating without those students present.
Russian military strategies involving missiles and drones continue to advance, complicating efforts to intercept them, noted Yurii Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force command, on national TV. Enhancements to Russia’s Shahed drones, originally Iranian designs, and upgrades to Moscow’s ballistic missiles are ongoing, he affirmed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked late Sunday that only the U.S. Patriot missile defense system can thwart such devastating attacks like the recent one in his hometown.
He has directed his defense and foreign affairs ministries to actively engage bilaterally on air defense initiatives, particularly with the United States, which possesses the capabilities to mitigate terror threats, he indicated. Economic Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko further revealed that Ukraine will send representatives to Washington this week to negotiate a new draft agreement allowing U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Concluding such a deal is seen as pivotal for securing ongoing U.S. military support.
Reports from Britain’s Ministry of Defense and the Institute for the Study of War suggest that Russian battlefield gains along the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line have slowed since November. However, Saturday night witnessed Russia executing its most significant aerial assault on Ukraine in nearly a month’s span, with both entities likely preparing for a renewed spring-summer military campaign.
On Monday in Kryvyi Rih, Nataliia Slobodeniuk reflected on her 15-year-old student, Danylo Nikitskyi, remembering him as a “spark” who breathed life into the classroom and took an active role in organizing school excursions. Tragically, Danylo died alongside his girlfriend, Alina Kutsenko, also 15, as they held hands. “If Danylo was involved, half the class was involved too,” Slobodeniuk said, underscoring his popularity and influence.
She struggled with her emotions, feeling a profound sense of powerlessness in the aftermath of the attack. “You live through their happiness and sorrow,” she reflected. “And now, this unbearable pain that rips through you—there’s nothing you can do, nothing to amend. You carry this pain endlessly.” As a memorial ceremony in the city was interrupted by an air raid alert, the reality of civilian danger remained imminent.
The frustration resonated deeply for Nataliia Freylikh, who taught 9-year-old Herman Tripolets, another young victim from last Friday’s onslaught. As a minute of silence was observed at the children’s school, where educators, peers, and families came together in grief, almost a hundred people stood unified in their sorrow. “Properly mourning him feels impossible,” Freylikh admitted.
The mourners departed the school for the church to participate in the funeral service for Tripolets, offering one final goodbye to the children who would never return home.