Date of publication: 17:30, 26.05.24
Category: War
Number of views: 7
Time to read: 6 min

Russia's massive attack on Kharkiv: Everything known about the aftermath, killed and injured

The cynicism and bloodthirstiness of the enemy reach new heights each time, causing suffering to innocent civilians.

The aftermath of the shelling of "Epicenter" in Kharkiv

On Saturday, May 25, the Russian army massively struck Kharkiv. Hits were recorded on civilian objects where many people were present. Unfortunately, as a result of the enemy's shelling, there are casualties.

Read all about the powerful attack on the city on TSN.ua.

Russia struck "Epicenter"

The first powerful explosions in the city were heard around 4:00 p.m. It became known that Russia attacked a residential area of Kharkiv, hitting a construction hypermarket. According to the Regional Military Administration, the object was hit by two Russian guided aerial bombs. A massive fire broke out, engulfing 15,000 square meters. Authorities confirmed the deaths of two people. At 4:48 p.m., mayor of the city Ihor Terekhov noted that there were many missing and injured due to the strike on a civilian object.

"We have a large number of people missing. Many are injured. To all appearances, the strike was aimed specifically at the shopping center where many people were – it's pure terrorism," he emphasized. Later, it became known that at the time of the Russian strike, there were up to 200 people in the Kharkiv hypermarket. As Terekhov reported, approximately 15 employees of the construction hypermarket are unaccounted for.

"We have spoken with the manager of this supermarket. Approximately 15 people who were working there are unaccounted for. Additionally, according to his information, there were 200 people inside the building. This is an extraordinary tragedy," he said.

Head of the Regional Military Administration, Oleh Synehubov, added that as of 5:22 p.m.:

2 people died;
24 people injured.

"There could have been several hundred people inside. Emergency services are on-site. Assistance is being provided to all those affected," the official said. A short post was published on the "Epicenter" Facebook page: "May 25, 2024...Kharkiv".

The State Emergency Service showed the aftermath of the enemy shelling

Employees of the State Emergency Service mobilized all their forces to tame the flames that have engulfed a civilian object.

"The extinguishing is complicated by the presence of a significant amount of flammable materials and the potential further spread of the fire to nearby warehouse premises. At the same time, there is a constant threat of repeated enemy shelling. We are working. We are saving lives," the service noted.

As of 18:08, rescuers managed to localize the fire.

Zelenskyy emotionally appealed to Ukraine’s partners

After the Russia’s missile strike on the "Epicenter" hypermarket, Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western partners to provide a sufficient amount of air defense systems.

"When we talk to world leaders that Ukraine needs sufficient air defense protection, when we talk about the need for real determination – to allow protecting the lives of our people exactly as effectively as possible, so that Russian terrorists cannot even approach our borders, – we are talking about literally preventing such terrorist attacks," the head of state said. The Ukrainian leader thanked the partners who truly support us. He called the Russian attack on the hypermarket "a manifestation of Russian madness."

"There is simply no other way to call it. Only the insane, like Putin, are capable of killing and terrorizing people so viciously. It's already known that there are wounded, there are killed. My condolences to the families and loved ones. Necessary assistance will be provided to everyone affected," he emphasized.

What did the Russians use

According to Dmytro Chubenko, Spokesman for the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the Russian terrorist army struck the "Epicenter" hypermarket in Kharkiv with an aviation munition UMPB D-30. The explosion led to a fire, as a result of which the number of casualties may increase. He stated that the fire after the shelling of the shopping center in Saltivka was powerful because lacquer and paint products, wooden items, the cladding of the store, and other goods inside caught fire.

"There was a strong caustic smoke that enveloped the entire huge shopping center, as a result of which, unfortunately, the number of dead and injured will probably increase. Basically, people were affected right from the explosion, There are dead, and the fire itself intensified the consequences of this war crime, and we are preparing for very serious consequences," the prosecutor's office spokesperson noted. Dmytro Chubenko reported that the employees of the prosecutor's office took the video camera servers of this shopping center. This is necessary, in particular, to determine how many people were inside. "Due to the very strong fire, we understand that the bodies will be severely mutilated, perhaps there will be nothing left of them at all. And the presence of video footage showing people inside the shopping center will confirm that a person was there, and this will provide some understanding of the consequences of this war crime," he noted.

Subsequently, the prosecutor's office showed the moment of hitting the construction hypermarket "Epicentr".

The number of dead and injured has increased

Forecasts regarding the increase of casualties and victims, unfortunately, came true. According to Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, as of 10:00 p.m., the following was recorded:

40 injured
6 dead
16 people are missing

Another strike at Central Park

However, the occupiers did not stop. Around 17:13, they struck Central Park.

"The impact occurred near a sports field within the park. Fortunately, no one was injured," Terekhkov reported.

The terrorists attacked for the third time

For several hours, Russia relentlessly shelled Kharkiv. Around 19:10, another explosion echoed through the city. According to Ihor Terekhov, the enemy had targeted an area densely populated with residential buildings. Later, Oleh Synehubov, HHead of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, added that initially there were three casualties after the explosion, but later their number increased to six.

"Among the casualties is a 13-year-old boy who has been hospitalized," the official stated.

Condition of the injured

Oleh Synehubov noted that 39 people have been transported to medical facilities, with 2 in critical condition and 1 in extremely critical condition in the burn intensive care unit. "A 13-year-old child has undergone surgery," he stated. Others are receiving outpatient treatment.

Read also: