Rescuers continued their search for survivors in the rubble of a large shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, following a Russian drone strike on Friday. The attack, described as a "double-tap strike," involved two drones hitting the busy center in quick succession, resulting in 16 fatalities and 130 injuries. Four people remain unaccounted for, and the search operation is expected to continue for another two days due to the scale of the devastation and ongoing threats.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, labeling it "cynical and despicable," particularly noting that the second drone targeted emergency workers who were responding to the initial strike. The incident occurred amidst a broader exchange of fire, with reports of Ukrainian attacks in Russia causing casualties, including children, and Russian strikes in Ukraine claiming further lives.

Oleksandr Hanzha, the Dnipropetrovsk regional head, confirmed the death toll reached 16 after another body was recovered overnight. He stated that efforts were being made to expedite the search and rescue operation, which was being hampered by the extensive damage and the threat of further attacks. Rescue teams from seven other Ukrainian regions were deployed to assist in the operation.

A massive fire that engulfed approximately 9,000 square meters of the shopping center has been extinguished. As of Saturday morning, 52 injured individuals, including 14 children, were still receiving hospital treatment, according to Hanzha. Dozens have undergone surgery, as reported by Kryvyi Rih's military chief, Oleksandr Vilkul, who described the attackers as "animals" for flying drones at extremely low altitudes.

Officials have not yet commented on why Ukraine's air defense units, which reportedly have a 90% success rate against drones, failed to intercept the strikes on the shopping center. The article notes that Ukraine's interception rate for ballistic missiles is significantly lower, around 40%, and Kyiv has previously indicated a shortage of effective interceptors like the US-made Patriot missiles.

The attack on Kryvyi Rih followed a major Russian missile and drone assault on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, the previous day, which killed 17 people and injured over 40.

A day of mourning has been declared across the Dnipropetrovsk region. Verified footage showed the second drone striking the already burning shopping center, located in President Zelensky's hometown.

While Russia's military has not issued a statement regarding the Kryvyi Rih attack, Ukrainian officials reported missile and drone strikes across the country throughout Friday night and into Saturday morning, impacting residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.