Kryvyi Rih: nine children on a playground
Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region · 4 April 2025, 18:50
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On a Friday evening an Iskander-M ballistic missile detonated over a residential district of Kryvyi Rih — above a playground, a restaurant and the blocks around them. 20 civilians were killed, nine of them children aged three to seventeen. The UN High Commissioner called it 'an unimaginable horror'. Russia said it had hit 'a meeting of unit commanders and Western instructors' and killed 'up to 85 servicemen'. The restaurant's cameras show a birthday party.
No military presence; possibly indiscriminate attack — established on site (OHCHR / HRMMU, 6 Apr 2025) Area-effect ballistic strikes on city districts with a 'military meeting' claim — pattern (Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Apr 2025) War crime causing death, by a group — position (Arts. 28(2), 438(2) CCU; four officers charged 24 Nov 2025)
Russia said. Russian Ministry of Defence · Telegram statement · 4 Apr 2025: “A high-precision strike [was carried out on] a meeting of unit commanders and Western instructors [in a restaurant in Kryvyi Rih]. Enemy losses total up to 85 servicemen and officers of foreign countries, and up to 20 vehicles.” — The restaurant's cameras show a birthday party. France 24 published the restaurant's CCTV at the moment of impact: patrons and staff, no soldiers. HRMMU heard from staff and the business association that a beauty-industry forum had just ended. The detonation was over the playground, 70–80 m from the restaurant. Nine of the 20 dead were children; no serviceman has been identified among them by anyone.
Evidence held: OHCHR, High Commissioner Türk, 6 Apr 2025; HRMMU press release, 24 Apr 2025; Dnipropetrovsk regional administration (Lysak), 4–6 Apr 2025; General Staff, 5 Apr 2025.
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