“Flash, explosion, gone”: Dnipro service station owner on instant ballistic missile strike

A day of mourning has been declared in Dnipro tomorrow after the Russian missile attack, which claimed four lives. The number of injured continues to rise and has now reached 40.

In the morning, the Russians attacked the city with ballistic missiles, hitting a car service station and an industrial facility. Nearby buildings and vehicles were damaged.

TSN correspondent Olha Pavlovska reports from the scene.

The aftermath of the attack on Dnipro: four killed, 11 seriously injured

The number of injured has risen again — now totaling 40. Search and rescue operations, fortunately, have been completed. The death toll remains at four.

Most of the injured have been hospitalized. Eleven are in critical condition, with medical teams working tirelessly.

Rescue efforts in the first minutes: panic and mutual aid

The Russians struck Dnipro with a ballistic missile after 10 a.m., right at the start of the workday. The area is densely built-up with heavy traffic and many pedestrians.

After the explosion, a fire broke out at the car service station and the industrial facility, and the damaged building sustained heavy damage. Passersby and employees immediately rushed to rescue the injured. Rescuers carried four people out of the wrecked building.

Eyewitnesses at the Chemical-Technological University described the first minutes after the attack, as bloodied people ran to the shelter inside the campus.

“There was panic. People from the street ran in — coming from the bus stop, heading to work or home. Men, probably working nearby, started entering the shelter. They had injuries to their limbs and faces, and abrasions. We called for an ambulance but couldn’t get through because there was no signal. Using what we had on hand, we provided aid, disinfected wounds, and stopped the bleeding,” said Olena Hnatko, Deputy Dean of the Chemical-Technological University.

Explosion occured immediately after the alarm

The owner of the car service station that operated in the building described how suddenly everything happened.

“Everyone was at their posts. We have almost 20 employees on staff. We saw a flash. I was in the workshop. Explosion. And that’s it. Then we fell to the floor, got up — all covered in dust. I ran around the service station, looking for my staff, and saw that everyone survived,” said Vitaliy Kovalenko, owner of the service station.

People say they didn’t have time to take cover. The explosion occurred almost immediately after the alarm was announced.

“The alarm went off, and the strike happened immediately. How could we react? There was no time. The stairs weren’t damaged, so we got out that way. Lots of dust, loud noise, many tears, frightened people. Just like always,” said an eyewitness.

Employees at the workshop producing bags and wallets stated that their colleagues died inside the building rather than by the windows.

Destruction in Dnipro

Besides the car service station and the industrial facility, many apartment buildings were damaged — windows were shattered. A university teaching building was also left without windows. Employees said there were no classes today, so the lecture halls were empty.

According to the police, no reports of missing persons have been received yet, but the destroyed structures are still under inspection. The full extent of the destruction is being assessed.