In the early hours of June 20, Russian forces launched an airstrike using guided bombs on a two-story residential building in the Kholodnoyarsky district of Kharkiv. Local authorities confirmed that rescue operations are underway as emergency services search for individuals trapped under the rubble.
According to Kharkiv’s Mayor Ihor Terekhov, a 76-year-old man was found deceased under the debris. The regional prosecutor’s office has initiated a preliminary investigation into the incident, which is being treated as a potential war crime due to the loss of life.
As of 9:25 AM, reports indicated that eight residential buildings sustained damage from the airstrike, with broken windows and damaged roofs, as stated by Bogdan Hladkykh, the director of the city’s emergency services department.
During the search and rescue efforts, emergency responders recovered the body of one individual, Terekhov reported. Earlier in the morning, at around 7:00 AM, eight people had been rescued, but officials warned that additional individuals, including a child, may still be trapped beneath the wreckage.
Oleh Synehubov, head of the regional military administration, noted that nine people were injured in the attack, with five requiring hospitalization and four receiving on-site medical assistance. Among the injured are two men aged 60 and 49, two women aged 54 and 87, and a six-year-old child. Additionally, a 66-year-old man experienced acute stress and required medical attention.
This airstrike follows a similar attack on June 19, which resulted in one fatality and several injuries in the same district.
A recent airstrike in Kharkiv has resulted in casualties and significant damage to residential buildings. Emergency services are conducting ongoing rescue operations as investigations into the incident begin.