Russian forces unleash aerial assault on Kharkiv, resulting in casualties
In the afternoon, a Russian airstrike hit a multi-story apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, striking the tenth floor. The attack sparked a fire on the upper levels, resulting in the death of a 94-year-old woman and leaving numerous civilians injured, including several children.
As reported by the authorities, one person lost their life drummed up by the incident, with 42 individuals sustained injuries. The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terechov, shared that among the wounded were three children, one of whom was only a year old. The number of injured individuals had undergone several revisions prior to the evening announcement.
Firefighters were at the scene to extinguish the fire that had broken out between the ninth and twelfth floors following the bombardment. The rescue operation lasted several hours, with rescuers sifting through the debris in search of more victims. As the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, announced that night, they had discovered a woman's body beneath the rubble. Additionally, the city's infrastructure suffered damages.
In earlier reports, the chief investigator of the Kharkiv police, Serhii Bolvinov, indicated that efforts were still ongoing to locate the missing 94-year-old woman. According to "The Kyiv Independent," she had been residing alone while her family was out shopping. Bolvinov also mentioned that her family had provided a DNA sample to aid in the identification of the deceased.
Zelenskyy Presses Western Allies
In a video message released following the high-rise incident in Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the only way to halt this "terror" is by granting his country the power to directly assault Russian air force bases. He reiterated his demands to Western allies to authorize Kiev to utilize the weapons they have provided towards strike missions within Russia. "We anticipate decisive actions first and foremost from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy," Zelenskyy stated.
Prior to the Russian invasion declared by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, Kharkiv was the second-largest city in Ukraine with over a million inhabitants. During the war's early stages, Moscow attempted to capture the city situated 30 kilometers from the border, but ultimately failed. Moscow's objective was to establish a buffer zone, but the attacks never crossed the boundary. Since then, Kharkiv has become amongst Ukraine's most frequently shelled urban areas.
Russian troops have repeatedly bombarded Kharkiv with artillery, rockets, and, most recently, guided bombs. These bombs are launched from aircraft while still in Russian territory, desending onto their targets by means of guided Glide Path.
The European Union, in a statement released after the incident, expressed their condolences and solidarity with Ukraine, vowing to stand by Kyiv in its fight against Russia's aggression. In response to Zelenskyy's appeal, several EU leaders have started discussions on expanding the scope of weapon supply to Ukraine, beyond defensive equipment.
