UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Oct 30 — On October 28, a Russian airstrike hit one of the entrances to the State Industry building (Derzhprom) in the center of Kharkiv, injuring nine people. It is a monument of national significance, a constructivist skyscraper that’s on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Mayor Ihor Terekhov plans to speak to UNESCO representatives about the incident, he told journalists on October 29.

Russia frequently attacks Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, located close to the frontline and 18 miles from the state border, often targeting civilian and critical infrastructure. Derzhprom houses offices of state institutions, NGOs, sports halls, and so on. 

The mayor noted that on September 7, 2023, UNESCO included Derzhprom on the List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection. The mayor said he had already personally spoken with UNESCO representatives, and now the international department of the city council seeks to speak to them in an official capacity.

The attack injured five men, including a police officer on duty, and four women. Two employees of the regional hospital suffered moderate injuries. It also damaged the regional hospital, apartment buildings, and a restaurant.

According to preliminary reports, Russians launched an FAB-500 glide bomb with a modified module on Derzhprom. Official sources say it was launched from the settlement Stroitel in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.

Author: Oleksandra Tarasenko

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