At least two people were killed and 24 injured Saturday in a Russian strike on a construction products hypermarket in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, where “more than 200 people” may have been at the time of impact.
“Russia dealt another brutal blow to our city of Kharkiv – a construction hypermarket – on Saturday, in the middle of the day,” denounced President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram and on X.
“A large number of people missing”
According to the regional governor, Oleg Synegoubov, at least two people were killed and 33 injured in this attack carried out using two guided aerial bombs. “A large number of people are missing. There are many injured,” added Mayor Igor Terekhov, denouncing “pure and simple terrorism”. According to him, 15 employees of the store did not give any sign of life and some 200 people were in the building at the time of the attack.
“At present, we know that more than 200 people may have been inside the hypermarket. All services are already on site to help rescue people and put out the fire,” said Volodymyr Zelensky.
Impressive images
Images broadcast on Ukrainian social networks showed the building from which a huge column of black smoke was escaping. According to the authorities, between 10,000 and 15,000 m2 are on fire.
Volodymyr Zelensky once again called on Ukraine’s Western allies to provide more air defense systems to his country. “If Ukraine had sufficient air defense systems and modern combat aircraft, such Russian strikes would have been impossible,” argued the president. “Every day we appeal to the world: give us air defense, save people. »
“Russian strikes on a shopping center in Kharkiv have just caused numerous victims,” Emmanuel Macron reacted on X. “France shares the Ukrainians’ pain and remains fully mobilized alongside them,” he added.
The city of Kharkiv, which had 1.5 million inhabitants before the war and located near the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine, is regularly targeted by Moscow’s forces, which also launched attacks on May 10 a ground offensive in the region. Around fifteen Russian missiles struck the city of Kharkiv on Thursday, killing seven civilians and destroying a printing press, according to local authorities.
This offensive allowed them to seize several localities and force kyiv to send reinforcements to the sector. Ukraine, however, assured Friday that this assault had been “stopped”.