UN condemns Russia’s Kryvyi Rih missile strike in deadly civilian attack

Volker Turk slams Russia’s targeting of Ukrainian city as “unimaginable horror” amid civilian deaths.

A residential room lies in ruins after a Russian missile strike on April 5, 2025, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. Photo by Polina Palamarchuk/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The United Nations has spoken out against one of the most devastating recent attacks in the Russia-Ukraine war. On Sunday, April 6, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, issued a powerful statement in which the UN condemns Russia’s Kryvyi Rih missile strike that killed at least 19 civilians, including nine children. The missile attack took place on Friday night in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

“This is an unimaginable horror,” Turk declared. “Nine children were killed, most of them while playing in a park, when military weapons exploded and shattered on top of them.”

In his detailed and emotionally charged statement, Turk described how a single missile attack ended 18 lives on what was supposed to be a peaceful spring evening. Families had gathered in parks and outside restaurants, enjoying the weather, unaware that their world was about to be torn apart.

A tragic Friday night in Kryvyi Rih

Ukrainian officials confirmed that the attack, which targeted a civilian neighborhood in Kryvyi Rih, left at least 75 others injured in addition to the 19 killed. Emergency services worked through the night, clearing debris and searching for survivors.

Footage from the scene showed destroyed buildings, shattered glass, and overturned playground equipment. Residents described the blast as sudden and deafening. Parents screamed for their children, and people ran through smoke and rubble trying to find loved ones.

The missile strike was one of the deadliest in recent months and has prompted renewed global attention on the human cost of the war.

Russia's justification questioned

Russia’s Defense Ministry quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Moscow, the strike was a “high-precision operation” targeting a location where Ukrainian commanders were allegedly meeting with Western military instructors. They identified the target as a restaurant hosting the gathering.

But the UN’s assessment differs sharply.

Volker Turk and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) rejected Russia’s claims. In their statement, they emphasized that UN investigators had already verified multiple civilian casualties. More disturbingly, they said there was no evidence to support the claim of a military presence in the area.

“All witnesses reported no military presence at the restaurant or in the surrounding area at the time of the attack,” the statement read. It further explained that witnesses told investigators that an industry forum was being held in the restaurant shortly before the explosion—an event unrelated to military activities.

According to international humanitarian law, even a suspected military presence does not justify an attack that causes disproportionate civilian harm. The UN now considers this strike potentially an indiscriminate attack, which is prohibited under the laws of war.

A call for accountability

Turk did not mince words in his call for justice. He urged for a prompt, thorough, and independent investigation into the missile strike. “There must be accountability for these acts,” he said. “We cannot allow the normalization of attacks on civilians.”

He also called for greater efforts to protect civilians as the war enters its third year. The ongoing violence, he noted, has taken a devastating toll not only on Ukrainian cities but also on the human spirit. “It is unacceptable that families are being destroyed while having dinner or walking in parks,” he said.

Turk’s statement comes amid growing international concern about how the Russia-Ukraine war continues to impact civilian life. Over the past year, multiple cities in Ukraine have faced missile strikes, drone attacks, and bombardments. Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has been among the hardest hit.

Reactions from Kyiv and beyond

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has yet to release an official statement on the specific missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, but his administration has consistently accused Russia of targeting civilians in its military operations. In the past, Zelenskyy has referred to Russia’s war strategy as “terror against the Ukrainian people.”

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed the UN’s concerns and called for additional sanctions against Russia in response to the attack. “This is another war crime,” a ministry spokesperson said. “The world must not remain silent.”

International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have also begun their own investigations into the Kryvyi Rih strike. Early assessments suggest that the attack may qualify as a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Civilian lives at risk

The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of civilians in conflict zones. Schools, parks, homes, and hospitals have all been hit throughout the war. The UN estimates that thousands of civilians have been killed, and many more injured, since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.

As of early April 2025, humanitarian agencies report that millions remain displaced, with infrastructure across the country—particularly in the east and south—devastated by ongoing violence.

Turk stressed that incidents like the Kryvyi Rih missile strike are not isolated. Instead, they reflect a broader pattern of disregard for international norms and civilian protection. “The rules of war are clear,” he said. “Civilians must never be the target.”

What comes next?

The statement in which the UN condemns Russia’s Kryvyi Rih missile strike adds pressure on the international community to respond. While political solutions seem distant, human rights advocates are urging world leaders to act through legal and diplomatic channels.

This includes support for investigations by the International Criminal Court and the UN’s own fact-finding missions. There are also growing calls for humanitarian corridors, stricter arms control, and intensified sanctions.

In the meantime, the people of Kryvyi Rih are left to grieve. Local authorities have declared a day of mourning. Candles, flowers, and toys have been placed at the park where the children were killed.

One resident, a mother of two who survived the blast, summed up the emotions of many. “We are not soldiers. We are just people trying to live. Why are our children targets?”

The world has been reminded once again of the urgent need to protect civilians in war. As the UN condemns Russia’s Kryvyi Rih missile strike, it underscores the principle that no military objective can justify the killing of innocent lives.

Volker Turk’s call for accountability is not only a demand for justice but also a plea for humanity in a war that continues to defy it. The events in Kryvyi Rih may one day serve as evidence in courtrooms or history books—but today, they are a living tragedy for those who mourn.