Russian forces strike Kharkiv, injuring 21 and possibly trapping more people under rubble
On October 8, Russian forces launched an attack on Kharkiv, targeting a civilian enterprise. The number of casualties is on the rise, and there is a widespread fire at the location, with potentially trapped individuals under debris. Currently, 21 injured people have been reported, one of whom is a child.
The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov, and the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, reported that on Telegram.
The mayor was the first to inform the public about the city's attack. He initially reported on the rocket strikes, while no air alert had been issued before or after the attack.
Later, the head of the region reported on the attack by the Russian-guided aerial bomb.
"An enemy hit was recorded in the Industrialny district of Kharkiv. According to preliminary information, the civilian enterprise was damaged… At least five people were injured," he noted.
However, Synehubov later edited the message, writing simply about an enemy's strike in Kharkiv's Industrianly district.
"According to preliminary information, civilian production has been damaged. The data is being checked," the head of the regional military administration clarified.
Terekhov, on the other hand, stressed that it was not just one hit but multiple. The specific weapon used to attack the civilian business is still being identified.
"There is a large-scale fire on the spot," the city's mayor said.
At first, it was reported that 11 people got hurt from the strike on the enterprise. Three of them are in critical condition. One of the casualties is a 16-year-old.
"There are at least two people under the rubble at the place of hit. The rescuers are doing everything to help them," Terekhov informed.
At noon, it was reported that the number of victims had increased to 16.
At 12:15 p.m., Synehubov noted that seven people were currently hospitalized.
"Other victims of the attack on Kharkiv were given medical assistance on the spot," he clarified.
At 12:35 p.m., the head of the regional military administration clarified that the number of victims had increased to 21.
For reference:
Due to its proximity to the Russian border, Kharkiv suffers from almost daily shelling by the occupiers. The enemy regularly hits civilians and civilian objects with various types of weapons: attack UAVs, missiles, and guided aerial bombs.
On the evening of October 2, during an air raid, the Russian invaders launched a guided aerial bomb attack on Kharkiv. This resulted in a 5-story residential building being hit and catching fire. Ten people, including a three-year-old child, were confirmed as victims, and there may have been others trapped under the rubble of the house.
The energy situation in Kharkiv is one of the most challenging, as the CHP plant and all the transformer substations were destroyed by shelling. However, the city has received gas modular boiler houses, which will provide uninterrupted heat to its residents, even in these challenging circumstances.