One is about children and the dead, the other is about the mayor’s office and his wife’s store: the first reactions of Lysak and Filatov to the attack on the Dnipro

The night from April 16 to 17, 2025, became another pain point for Dnipro – around 11 p.m., Russian attack drones attacked the city. People died, children were among the victims, residential buildings were destroyed, and educational and cultural institutions were damaged. The number of victims was increasing, but in addition to the tragedy of the attack itself, this night also became a marker of the first reaction to it by the leaders of the region and the city.

Serhiy Lysak’s first reaction

On the attack on the Dnipro immediately publicly reacted Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Serhii Lysak. His first message appeared already at 22:53:

“Several fires broke out in Dnipro due to an attack by UAVs. Residential buildings were damaged. According to preliminary information, two children were injured. We are verifying all the data.”

Then he reported the death of a girl, an elderly woman, and seven wounded, including a 9-month-old child. In the time since the attack, he also added:

“There are currently 16 injured people. Among them are three children. In addition to a 9-month-old girl, boys are 6 and 11 years old. They are in a satisfactory condition. Five people were taken to hospitals, they are receiving medical assistance.”

In addition, Serhii Lysak reported on the destruction of residential buildings, educational and cultural facilities, mutilation of cars, and also expressed his gratitude to those who work at the scene of the tragedy: rescuers, utility workers, volunteers and law enforcement officers.

This reaction was official, but human. Without unnecessary emotions, but with a clear sense of duty and responsibility.

Boris Filatov’s first reaction

Instead, the mayor of Dnipro, Borys Filatov, expressed a completely different opinion. His first public message, issued at 11:32 p.m., did not include any information about injuries, destruction or fatalities. Instead, it is his traditional emotional tirade, written in swearing, coarse language, with elements of black humor and personal images:

“Geeza. Pid@ry will make a statement again tomorrow that they killed a bunch of “Nazis”. The grandfather who promised to “end the war in 24 hours” and make a golf club in the Gaza Strip will sit and be silent as a piece of shit.

And in fact, they once again destroyed a bunch of civilian buildings and drove them around the city hall with a shahed. Yes, yes. According to the mayor’s office. But they didn’t get it. Arrival in 100 meters. Right next to the monument to Paul :(( But it is powerful in our country.
It costs like hell in Moscow.
…
Well, they also destroyed my wife’s shop.
I declare responsibly that, apart from women’s clothing, there was not a single NATO soldier there.
…
I hate you I hate To make you sigh. All”.

Not a word about the dead, injured, children, destruction in the city, rescue services. Instead, about the arrival near the city hall and his wife’s shop. It is hard not to notice that in this first, most sensitive hour after the attack, the mayor focused on this very thing.

Only two hours after the attack on the city – already around one in the morning – Filatov published a message that contained the facts:

“At least 15 houses were damaged. Among them are student dormitories, educational institution buildings and food enterprises. Examinations will continue until the morning. Too much in private development.
In city hospitals, they help the wounded. In general, the number of victims has increased to 28 – four of them are children.

Thank you to everyone who is with people on this difficult night. Sincere condolences to the families of the victims.”

However, this information became a belated addition to the emotional, chaotic reaction, the center of which was not the townspeople, but the city hall, the monument and his wife’s shop.

So, on the night when the city shuddered from explosions and doctors saved children’s lives, Dnipro saw two completely different models of behavior and the first reaction to the attack by the first persons of the authorities. Lysak is reserved, specific and thoughtful about people and the city. And Filatov is emotional, subjective, with a focus on the personal, obscene, theatrical. And, unfortunately, in a city that often suffers from enemy attacks, this is not a small thing, but an indicator.