Mother fears the worst as daughter missing after Ukraine shopping centre missile strike

ITV News Correspondent John Ray reports from outside the decimated shopping centre

A 22-year-old shopping centre employee is among the 36 people missing after Russia attacked a crowded mall in Ukraine on Monday.

Tanya was on shift when a missile struck the building, said to be filled with over 1,000 people, in the city of Kremenchuk.

She was due to get married later this year, but her family will likely attend a funeral instead, her mother Lyudmila told ITV News.

The authorities have confirmed 18 fatalities from the attack, but the death toll may continue to rise as rescuers search the smouldering rubble.

Lyudmila has been desperately searching for Tanya, including at a mortuary and a local hospital that's treating the wounded dozens.

However, there is currently no trace of the 22-year-old, dead or alive.

“'Russian peace’ is shooting on our peaceful citizens," Lyudmila said.

"Tell the whole world that they are mean, lying morons. They kill our kids, our people... everyone."

The attack has sparked global outrage, with the leaders of G7, the United Nations, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson publicly condemning Russia.

At home, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy described the strike as “one of the most disastrous terrorist attacks in European history”.

Mr Zelenskyy stressed that the shopping mall target presented “no threat to the Russian army” and had “no strategic value.” He accused Russia of sabotaging “people’s attempts to live a normal life, which makes the occupiers so angry”.

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The Ukrainian military said the shopping centre was hit by missiles fired by Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers from the skies over Russia’s western Kursk region.

Officials believe the strike was done in a bid to intimidate Ukraine ahead of international summits on Monday and over the coming days, where support for the country will be one of the main topics on the agenda. In memory of those killed, the regional administration has declared three days of mourning.