Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly criticized the United States for what he described as a weak and cautious response to a deadly Russian missile strike that devastated his hometown of Kryvyi Rih. The attack, which occurred late Friday, took the lives of 18 civilians—including nine children—and injured at least 72 others. The missile reportedly struck a quiet residential area, close to a children’s playground and a local restaurant, leaving a trail of destruction and grief.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in Ukraine and across the international community, yet President Zelensky was particularly dismayed by the language used in the official response from the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. In a post on social media, Zelensky named each of the children who were killed, expressing deep frustration that the U.S. failed to directly name Russia as the aggressor in its statement. “Unfortunately, the reaction of the American Embassy is unpleasantly surprising,” Zelensky said. “Such a strong country, such a strong people—and such a weak reaction. They are even afraid to say the word ‘Russian’ when talking about the missile that killed the children.”
Although the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, had condemned the attack, describing it as “horrific” and calling for an end to the war, her statement avoided explicitly attributing the missile strike to Russia. This omission has drawn criticism from Ukrainian leadership and the general public, who view it as a failure to hold Russia accountable for its continued war crimes.
The timing of the attack and muted U.S. reaction come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts reportedly backed by former President Donald Trump to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. However, Zelensky dismissed the notion that Russia is serious about peace, especially in the wake of such targeted civilian attacks. “Russia does not want a ceasefire—and we see it. The whole world sees it,” he declared, reinforcing his call for stronger international pressure on the Kremlin.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the missile strike, claiming it had targeted a meeting between Ukrainian commanders and foreign military advisors. Ukrainian authorities, however, rejected this narrative, insisting that the missile deliberately struck civilian spaces and should be treated as a war crime. Images from the site show twisted metal, shattered glass, and scorched earth—haunting evidence of yet another brutal assault on Ukraine’s civilian population.
This latest tragedy has plunged the city of Kryvyi Rih into mourning, with three days of official remembrance announced for the victims. For Zelensky, who was born and raised in the city, the attack hit especially close to home. His sharp rebuke of the U.S. response underscores the growing frustration among Ukrainian leaders, who believe that measured diplomatic language and hesitation to directly confront Russia only embolden the aggressor.
As the war drags on, the strike on Kryvyi Rih serves as a chilling reminder of the price civilians pay each day in this conflict. For Ukraine, words of support must be matched with action—and for Zelensky, silence or ambiguity in the face of such atrocities is unacceptable.
Source: News Agencies