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The death toll from Friday’s Russian missile attack on Kryvyi Rih has climbed to 18 people, including nine children, according to regional governor Serhii Lysak’s Saturday announcement.

The devastating strike left 61 people wounded, with victims ranging from a 3-month-old infant to elderly citizens. Medical facilities are currently treating 40 individuals, including two children in critical condition and 17 others with serious injuries.

“There can never be forgiveness for this,” said Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s defense council. “Eternal memory to the victims.”

The attack targeted the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, striking an area adjacent to residential buildings and destroying a playground and surrounding streets, as detailed in Zelenskyy’s Telegram message.

The impact damaged approximately 20 apartment complexes, over 30 vehicles, an educational facility, and a restaurant, according to local officials.

Russia’s Defense Ministry issued a statement claiming they conducted a precision missile strike with a high-explosive warhead on a restaurant where military commanders and Western instructors were allegedly meeting. They reported killing 85 military personnel and foreign officers while destroying 20 vehicles, though these claims remain unverified and were dismissed by the Ukrainian General Staff.

A subsequent drone attack on the city resulted in one female casualty and seven injuries.

Zelenskyy attributed these ongoing attacks to Russia’s reluctance to pursue peace, stating “Every missile, every drone strike proves Russia wants only war.” He called on Ukraine’s international partners to increase pressure on Moscow and strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

“The United States, Europe, and the rest of the world have enough power to make Russia abandon terror and war,” he said.

Ukrainian air force reports indicate that Russian forces deployed 92 drones overnight, with air defenses successfully intercepting 51, while 31 decoy drones failed to reach their intended targets.

In other developments, Russian-appointed Governor Denis Pushilin reported one fatality from shelling in occupied Horlivka, Donetsk region. Russian security officials claimed they neutralized 28 Ukrainian drones over Donetsk overnight, marking the first instance of such long-range strikes targeting the occupied territory.