Supermarket director under investigation after deadly Russian strike on Kryvyi Rih shopping center
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Police in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast have initiated criminal proceedings against the director of a supermarket in Kryvyi Rih, part of the shopping center targeted in a recent deadly Russian drone strike, Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi said on Aug. 22.
The director is being investigated for negligence after the business allegedly remained open during an air raid alert and subsequent attack on the shopping complex.
Russian forces launched a daytime drone strike on the shopping center on Aug. 21, killing at least 16 people and injuring 130 others, including 23 children. The center was then hit by a jet-powered Shahed-type drone in a second "double-tap" strike.
Search and rescue operations are still underway at the attack site, and multiple people remain missing.
A significant number of those killed in the shopping center attack were found inside the supermarket, Vyhivskyi said. About 20 minutes passed between the air raid alert and the first drone impact, further supporting the accusation of negligence.
The scope of the investigation will include questions about whether visitors and staff were properly informed regarding the drone threat, whether an evacuation order was issued in time, and whether the mall's emergency-response procedures were adequate for a front-line region. Investigators will also look into reports that shelter doors were blocked.
Along with the supermarket director, law enforcement will also investigate high-level employees at the company that owns the shopping center as well as other tenant businesses at the complex.
"During air raid alarms, it is crucial to react promptly to prevent crowds from forming and to protect lives," Vyhivskyi said.
The minister issued an appeal to managers of businesses, especially those in front-line and border regions, urging them to respond appropriately to threats and follow safety protocols..
"In a time when Russia is deliberately targeting shopping centers and supermarkets, responsible behavior regarding people's safety must be paramount. … We call on managers at all levels to take threats seriously and to take timely measures to protect people," he said.
