Russian forces struck a shopping center in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih twice on Friday, with the second attack coming as emergency services were already on the scene conducting a rescue operation, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defense council.
The first strike was carried out by a drone in the middle of the day, Vilkul said, adding that further attacks could not be ruled out.
Two people were killed and the number of wounded rose to 52, of whom 20 were in surgery, said Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional administration. Six children were among the wounded.
The target was the largest shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, located in the city center. Shops inside the building caught fire, and emergency services were conducting a rescue operation.
Russia's Defense Ministry says it strikes only military targets. The ministry typically does not comment on civilian deaths or the destruction of civilian infrastructure.