Senior Russian officers accused of orchestrating deadly playground attack in Kryvyi Rih

Ukrinform reports this, citing the SSU.

An evidence base has been collected against the command staff of Russian military formations that directed the missile strike on Kryvyi Rih on April 4, 2025.

The attack targeted residential buildings and a children’s playground in a densely populated central district of the city.

According to the case materials, the Russians used an Iskander-M ballistic missile equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Dozens of civilians were killed, including nine children.

The investigation established that overall command of the attack was exercised by Colonel General Aleksey Kim, Chief of Staff of Russia’s Joint Grouping of Forces.

To organize the missile strike, he involved Vice Admiral Aleksandr Peshkov, head of the Joint Center for Planning and Coordination of Enemy Fire Engagement.

Preparation and technical support for the air strike were assigned to Rear Admiral Aleksey Petrushyn, head of the intelligence management and enemy fire-coordination center of Russia’s Joint Grouping of Forces.

He worked on these tasks together with Colonel Aleksandr Kisedobrev, head of the missile forces and artillery directorate of the same grouping.

Investigators notified the individuals of suspicion in absentia under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (war crimes committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, resulting in loss of life).

As Ukrinform reported, the SSU previously notified in absentia the former pseudo–minister of education and science of the so-called DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and four of his accomplices over the deportation of children from the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk region to Russia.

Photo: Suspilne Dnipro