The Russian Ministry of Defense announced Tuesday that he would hit the building of the 72nd main center for Information Psychological Operations and Facilities of the security department of Ukraine in Kyiv “remove information attacks against Russia.” Everyone who nearby lives were asked to leave their homes.
Russia continues its bombardments of a number of Ukrainian cities on Tuesday.
A Russian military strike hit the center of Ukraine second-most grand cityseverely damaging the symbolic regional administration of the Soviet era building. CCTV footage showed a fireball engulfing the street in of face of the building, with a few cars keep driving out of the smoke rising.
“You can’t watch this without crying,” said a witness in a video of the aftermath verified by The Associated Press (AP).
An emergency official says the bodies of at least six people had been pulled from the ruins, and at least 20 more people have been hurt. It wasn’t right away clear what kind of the weapon was used or how numerous people were killed, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there were dozens of victims.
Zelensky called the attack on the “frank, unvarnished” bob terror. No one will forgive. No one will forget. This attack on Kharkiv is a war crime.”
It was the first time in russian military had hit the center of the city of about 1.5 million people whose residential neighborhoods have been under fire for days. The Ukrainian emergency service said it had put out 24 fires in and around Kharkiv caused by bombardments, and he had disabled 69 explosive devices.
Also hit on Tuesday was a tent site on the place center that had been set up collect aid for Ukrainian volunteer fighters who rushed to Kharkiv defense. In recent days, volunteer guards had occupied the regional administration building in the framework of of these efforts.
It was feared that some of the volunteers were now part of the dead.
the Windows of administration building were blown out. The ceilings had collapsed. concrete dust added another layer of a dark and gray despair. Near car was crushed.
As emergency responders searched through the debris, there was renewed anger.
“This is for those who were waiting for a Russian peace, that’s what you wanted, Yes? Lots of injuries” one noted.
The Russian military denied targeting civilians, despite ample evidence of bombing raid of residential buildings, schools and hospitals. the military “take all measures to preserve the life and safety of civilians,” Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. like point out that strikes are carried out out only on military targets and use exclusively precision weapons.
Not convinced, one Kharkiv hospital moved its maternity ward to a bomb shelter, with Pregnant women perambulate in darkness. The cries of dozens of newborns echoed off the thick concrete walls. Electric cables hang down. Rolled-up the mattresses have been placed against windows.
Like the bombardment in Kharkiv intensified, one family spent a fifth day in another shelter under the city. Water bottles and backpacks were stored in the basement. A military- hooked helmet style on a shelf, and below, a boy looked at a phone. mixed boredom with fear.
“It’s a nightmare, and it grips you very strongly from within. It can’t be explained with words”, the mother said Ekaterina Babenko.
She could hardly believe the Russian attack was happening in Kharkiv and tearing apart its quarters.
“My friend who Lives in the suburb of Gorizont, a few hours there is the house next to his was hit and several floors were destroyed”, Babenko said. “And for some time there was no connection with son. Those were scary minutes, very scary.”
for her family and others still in the shelter in the city world above was changing too quickly to understand. Warehouses, homesgarages, cars, all burned.
“Sveta, let’s go,” one the man urged in a video showing the bombardment of a residential area in Kharkov on Monday.
“Come on, I’m going catch up with you, said the woman.
“To leave, for For God’s sake,” the man pleaded.
Other residents were already west, hoping to leave Ukraine altogether.
