“A Person Was Torn Apart.” At Least 8 Killed, 57 Injured in Russian Missile Strike on Kharkiv

UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Jan 23 — The death toll after the Russian missile strike on Kharkiv this morning rises to eight, reports the press service of the Prosecutor’s Regional Office. Rescuers recovered a body fragment of a teenage girl from under the rubble in the Kyivskyi district of the city.  

Recently, rescuers recovered the body of a killed woman from the debris. 

Reporting on the victims of the morning Russian attack, Serhii Bolvinov, head of the Investigation Department of the Main Department of National Police in Kharkiv Oblast, said that “the fourth victim can be identified by the prosecution’s office only via DNA analysis. After the missile hit a private house, the person was literally torn apart.” 

According to Bolvinov, preliminary investigation shows that Russians utilized both S-300 and Kh-22 missiles to attack the city. 

As of now, there’s information about 57 people who were injured in the strikes. Twenty-three of those are currently in Kharkiv hospitals. The rescue operation is ongoing. Bolvinov says there might be at least two more people under the rubble. 

Read more: Russian Missile Attack on January 23, in Photos: the Aftermath 

What’s known about Russian missile attacks on Kharkiv on January 23 

Russians launched the first attack at about 4 a.m., with four hits at the Kharkiv suburbs. The missile strikes injured children and damaged buildings in a private sector, a recreational camp, a sanatorium school, and a gas pipeline. Earlier, around 03:30 a.m., Russia also attacked Balakliia, injuring another two civilians.  

The second series of strikes hit around 07:14 a.m.; residents heard at least six explosions. Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of the Kharkiv oblast, reported that the attack destroyed entrances to a multi-story residential building.

According to the Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekhov, the Russian shelling damaged 30 residential buildings. 

The attack also left some parts of the city without electricity. Kharkivoblenergo [Ukrainian state-owned energy supply company — ed.] specialists have restored power supply to 90% of subscribers. They are still working on restoring power to the rest. 

Photo credits: Russia shelled Kharkiv twice on the morning of January 23. Rescuers are sorting through the rubble / Photo: Ivan Samoilov for Gwara Media