Kremenchuk Shopping Mall Strike: Kh-22 Missile Kills 20 Сivilians
On Monday, June 27, 2022, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation committed another terrorist act and war crime. Tu-22M3 aircraft launched Kh-22 missiles from the Kursk direction. One of them hit the Amstor shopping center in Kremenchuk, Poltava region, at 3:50 PM. About 1,000 people were in the shopping center during the terrorist attack. The Kremenchuk shopping mall strike targeted civilians doing their daily shopping.
Some technical details: the supersonic Kh-22 missile was developed in the 1960s and designed to destroy aircraft carriers and their escort ships. The average speed of various Kh-22 modifications is 3,500 km/h, average range is up to 400 km. From Kursk to Kremenchuk is 350 km — six minutes of flight for such a missile.
The Fire Spreads
At the moment the missile hit, a strong wind was blowing, which fanned the flames. Therefore, after the first missile hit, the entire area of the shopping center caught fire — approximately 10,300 square meters. After the fire that arose as a result of the missile strike, only a metal structure remained of the building. The second missile destroyed the building of the Kredmash plant next to Amstor. This plant manufactures asphalt mixing plants and spare parts for them.
russian propaganda didn’t invent anything new and reported that “russian missiles hit a NATO ammunition warehouse.”
Rescue Operations
As of the morning of June 28, 20 dead, 36 missing, and 59 wounded civilians were known. Rescuers continue to clear debris at the site. They dismantle damaged building structures using heavy engineering equipment and small mechanization means. The State Emergency Service involved 440 people and 70 units of equipment. Local residents bring flowers and lamps to an improvised memorial. Entire families come.
They cannot identify the bodies of some dead because they are severely burned. DNA testing will identify them. This requires several days. Hospitals in Kremenchuk and Poltava took those wounded as a result of the missile strike. According to doctors, the oldest victim of the russian terrorist attack was born in 1956, the youngest in 2002. According to the hospital director, the main injuries people arrive with are shrapnel wounds. Those who lost a lot of blood are in serious condition.
The Perpetrators Known
Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrskyi stated at a briefing at the scene that the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police managed to establish which regiment of russian aviation committed this crime. The names of the pilots are also known, but the minister refused to name them.
The Kremenchuk shopping mall strike demonstrates russia’s deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure. A missile designed to sink aircraft carriers hit a shopping center full of families. Strong winds spread the fire across 10,300 square meters. Bodies burned beyond recognition. And russian propaganda claims they hit a “NATO warehouse” while rescuers pull civilians from rubble and families lay flowers at makeshift memorials.