Kharkiv: Fresh Russian airstrikes wreak havoc in Ukraine’s Kharkiv, claiming two lives and leaving over 30 injured, as reported by regional officials.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy makes a fervent appeal to Western allies for bolstered air defenses to safeguard Ukrainian cities against such attacks.
Kharkiv regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, communicates via Telegram that two guided bombs struck a bustling DIY hypermarket in a residential area, resulting in two fatalities among store employees and injuries to 33 others.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov discloses that approximately 120 individuals were present inside the hardware store at the time of the bombings, characterizing the assault as an act of terrorism.
Andriy Kudinov, the director of the suburban shopping center, recounts that the store was bustling with shoppers purchasing supplies for their summer retreats. Terekhov later reports another strike in the city center, resulting in two additional injuries.
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Video footage from Reuters captures massive plumes of smoke rising from the scene, with firefighters diligently battling numerous small fires. Despite the chaos, most blazes are brought under control within 90 minutes.
The precarious situation prompts rescuers, medics, and journalists to take cover, wary of potential subsequent strikes, a grim reality of Russia’s recent onslaughts.
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Situated just 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border, Kharkiv has endured relentless Russian assaults for weeks, including an incursion into northern regions earlier in the month.
Eyewitnesses recount scenes of panic and desperation within the shopping center, with one survivor, Dmytro Syrotenko, describing his harrowing escape from the rubble.
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In his nightly address, Zelenskiy condemns the attack as “yet another example of Russian madness,” emphasizing the urgent need for robust air defenses to shield Ukrainian civilians from such atrocities.
Despite Moscow’s denial of deliberately targeting civilians, the toll of casualties continues to mount during its protracted 27-month invasion of Ukraine.
