Attack on shopping center: “The impact could be heard throughout the city”

In the rubble of the shopping center bombed by Russia, emergency services continued their search for days later, says a journalist from Kremenchuk. The city is in shock.

tagesschau.de: A Russian missile hit a central shopping center in Kremenchuk on Monday. At least 18 people died and the building burned down. What is the current situation in Kremenchuk – are you still under fire?

Olha Minchuk: How should I put it – the day before yesterday was enough for us… That was already the fourth air strike against us – and the worst, because people died in the process. But if you mean the air alerts, which are supposed to warn of further attacks: They keep going, every day – from one to seven times a day. And people are already tired of hiding every time, so not everyone goes to the bunker anymore… It’s been like this for five months, and getting up three times a night and going into the bunker, you can do that in the long run Not.

tagesschau.de: So people try to go on living normally even when nothing is normal?

Minchuk: Yes it is. We act like nothing is wrong. Unfortunately, we’ve gotten used to it. Many shopping centers and shops have been closed or have to close when the alarm goes off, many casually say: “Oh, air raid alarm again?” – “Yes, again.. fine.”

The day before yesterday, some of the people went to the shopping center because it was allowed to operate again. Some were able to save themselves from the attack, others didn’t make it – or simply ignored the risk, so to speak.

The shopping center hit is a modern building – made of metal and plastic, lightweight fabric. It is very close to the train and bus station – for these reasons it was closed for a long time during air raids. In the last few days, the authorities have given the shops in the center the freedom to open. Some of the operators forbade the employees to come, others resumed work.

“Access closed for days”

tagesschau.de: In the first moment after the rocket hit, it was said that there were up to 1,000 people in the shopping center. Can you confirm?

Minchuk: I wasn’t there when the attack happened, I just heard it. The information came from our President – he estimated there could have been as many as 1000 people there as that many can fit in a downtown mall at rush hour. But there weren’t that many – maybe a few hundred, but that’s my guess, I’m not an eyewitness. Eyewitnesses say that the center was rather sparsely frequented – because a large part of the shops were still closed.

tagesschau.de: When the rocket hit, the center caught fire and burned out. How does it look now at the site of the rocket impact?

Minchuk: The impact could be heard across the city, and the smoke was everywhere. The violent pressure wave also damaged nearby buildings and cars, and shattered windows, but no one has made a detailed inventory of this damage, because dead people are still being searched for in the rubble.

A part of the access road to the shopping center has been closed for two days. That doesn’t affect traffic that much, because previous air strikes by Russia destroyed the Kremenchuk oil refinery, which supplied about two-thirds of Ukraine’s diesel fuel needs. Fuel is scarce and expensive, so there are hardly any cars on the road. Public transport is still running, but with detours.

“Search operation is still ongoing”

tagesschau.de: You say that for many people the air raids have already become part of everyday life. But aren’t you shocked after such a heavy hit in the city center?

Minchuk: You are of course shocked. We’re a small town with 220,000 inhabitants, everyone knows each other. I also have an acquaintance whose brother is now missing and other acquaintances who were nearby shortly before the airstrike. In one way or another, this affects every single resident of Kremenchuk. It’s terrible. And a three-day mourning was declared in the city.

tagesschau.de: Will there be a memorial service afterwards?

Minchuk: The rescue and search operation in the rubble is still ongoing. Then there is the identification of those who have been recovered. There is no talk of her burial yet. I was at the site of that tragedy or terrorist attack – I don’t know what to call it. It’s horrible. Kremenchuk residents bring masses of flowers to the mall, the square is full of flowers, toys and candles in memory of the dead, trying to help relatives of people who are missing or are now in hospital. Of course, there are also some who are still hoping for a miracle… According to the authorities, the search operation in the rubble will continue for a few more days.

“Everything is obvious”

tagesschau.de: Is evidence being taken at the site of the missile impact investigating the attack?

Minchuk: I don’t know whether international experts are active there now. I’ve seen colleagues from the BBC and representatives from some organizations – but I can’t say which. The Minister of the Interior and the responsible authorities and criminalists have traveled from Kyiv to record the statements of the people. And a UN special envoy is to be dispatched to Kremenchuk. But what is there to prove about this situation, everything is obvious. And the Russian media twist everything anyway and make “white” out of “black”.

tagesschau.de: What are your wishes now for the near future?

Minchuk: Every week, fighters who defend us and the sovereignty of our country are buried in our city! Everyone wants revenge for that. We have become very strong and are no longer afraid of anything. If we were still afraid in February, we are no longer afraid. And everyone wants this to end and Russia to be convicted for its crimes.

The conversation was led by Jasper Steinlein, tagesschau.de.