Ukraine: The Moment a Russian Missile Hit a Hotel Housing American and British Volunteers

A Russian missile struck a five-story hotel in the city of Kryvyi Rih – the birthplace of Volodymyr Zelenskyy – on Wednesday (05.03.2025), which housed British and American volunteers. At least four people were killed and 31 injured when the Iskander ballistic missile exploded, creating a large, orange fireball upon impact. The attack on Ukraine occurred hours after Trump suspended intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. The city, being the birthplace of the Ukrainian president, is frequently targeted by Russian attacks. Rescue workers were seen pulling unconscious bodies from the rubble as the roof and facade of the ‘Central Hotel’ collapsed entirely. Smoke billowed from the top of the hotel, with nearly all windows shattered, as fire trucks and ambulances arrived at the scene. Emergency services used cranes to reach the upper floors of the building, entering through the massive hole left by Moscow’s missile. Rescuers continue to search for those trapped in the debris, according to officials. A group of humanitarian organization volunteers from Ukraine, the US, and the UK had checked into the hotel just before the attack but survived after finding shelter in time, President Zelenskyy stated in his evening address. ‘Unfortunately, four people were killed in the attack,’ he wrote on Telegram. ‘We must not ease pressure on Russia to end this war and terrorism against life.’ Notably, the attack happened shortly after Donald Trump attempted to pressure Zelenskyy to sign an energy deal with Washington and begin peace talks with Russia. Without US intelligence, Ukraine’s ability to detect and intercept Russian missiles and drones will significantly diminish, along with its capability to use Western missiles on strategic targets. Kryvyi Rih has been a frequent target of drones and missiles since the start of the Russian invasion three years ago. Of the 31 injured in the ‘Central Hotel’ attack, 14 are severely wounded, according to the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Rescue workers were heard shouting and calling out to people under the rubble in dramatic scenes shared on Telegram. In addition to the hotel, 14 apartment buildings, a post office, and 12 stores were damaged. This latest attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where Russian forces are advancing, was part of a nighttime assault using drones and missiles launched by Vladimir Putin’s forces. The Ukrainian military reported that two Iskander ballistic missiles and 112 drones targeted cities across the country during the night. Anti-aircraft units shot down 68 Russian drones, but dozens more managed to get through, according to the air force. Drones hit energy infrastructure in the southern Odessa region, injuring two people, said Governor Oleh Kiper. In the northeastern city of Sumy, a 32-year-old guard was killed when a warehouse suffered severe damage from a drone strike, according to police. Other missiles hit Kharkiv, causing significant damage to a nine-story building and a kindergarten, local officials reported. Following the attack, Ukrainian officials condemned ongoing hostilities and called on Western allies to provide substantial security guarantees ahead of ceasefire negotiations with Russia. ‘Every day, Russia proves it is ready to continue the war and terrorize civilians,’ wrote Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. ‘That’s why Ukraine needs strong security guarantees to ensure lasting and fair peace.’