9-Year-Old Child Among Two Killed in Deadly Russian Drone Strike on Ukrainian Supermarket

CHERNIHIV, Ukraine — A peaceful Sunday afternoon, July 26, 2026, erupted into tragedy when a Russian drone targeted a busy ATB supermarket in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, killing two people—including a 9-year-old girl—and wounding 25 others.

The drone struck the commercial building directly during peak shopping hours. The impact ignited a massive fire that rapidly ripped through the supermarket structure and damaged a nearby car repair station, sending thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene to combat the flames and search for survivors trapped beneath the burning debris. According to Ukraine's State Emergency Services, two fatalities were confirmed at the site, with regional officials later clarifying that one of the victims was a 9-year-old child.

The strike left at least 25 people wounded with injuries ranging in severity. Among those injured was a 10-year-old boy.

Medical personnel treated many victims on-site for glass lacerations and minor smoke inhalation, while others were rushed to local hospitals. Regional Governor Vyacheslav Chaus reported that three victims remain in intensive care fighting for their lives.

A local witness described the moments of the explosion: "It was the middle of the day, and families were just doing their weekend grocery shopping. Suddenly there was a deafening blast, the ceiling started collapsing, and everything was on fire. People were screaming and running in every direction through the smoke."

The attack on Chernihiv was part of a larger, coordinated wave of daytime and overnight bombardments across Ukraine that saw the deployment of multiple ballistic missiles and over 130 drones targeting urban centers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the strike on Telegram, calling out the attack on a purely civilian infrastructure asset.

"This is deliberate Russian terror that has no military justification," Zelenskyy stated. He reiterated his urgent call to international allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defense systems to protect civilian lives from ongoing aerial assaults.

As rescue workers continue to clear away the smoldering wreckage of the supermarket, local authorities fear the casualty count could still change as forensic teams complete their search of the facility.