UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Oct. 13 — “Air alert!” shouted a rescuer. Everyone ran to the nearest shelters. The impact site emptied for a second, but as soon as the all-clear was given, the rescue workers resumed their work. The search-and-rescue operation continued despite the ongoing massive Russian attack on Kharkiv.
On the evening of Oct. 12, the Russians launched at least 10 Banderol missiles on the Kholodnohirskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts of the city. One of the missiles hit a five-story apartment building, destroying a large section of the building.
Gwara Media journalists were at the impact site and documented the aftermath of the Russian attack.
During the night at the impact site, Oleh Syniehubov, governor of Kharkiv Oblast, told Gwara that at least three people had been killed and more than 10 injured. He said there could be more people under the rubble.
By morning, the governor reported that rescuers found a fourth body. He added that, among the injured, five people are hospitalized, with two of them having severe injuries.
Dmytro watched the rescuers at work. He owns one of the destroyed apartments. During the massive attack, he was at home with his wife and three-year-old son.
“We heard explosions somewhere nearby. My wife and son were hiding in the bathroom. After another explosion, the electricity cut out, so I ran to bring them a flashlight. And right at that moment, the building was hit. We were all in the bathroom, and that saved us,” Dmytro said.
The rescue operation continued throughout the night. In addition to the danger of repeated Russian attacks, rescuers were also at risk of the building collapsing. While clearing the rubble, a concrete slab fell onto a group of workers.
Yevhen Vasylenko, a spokesman for Kharkiv’s State Emergency Service, told Gwara that one rescuer was injured in the collapse. He is currently in the hospital with severe injuries.
When our reporters returned to the impact site in the morning, they met Liudmyla. A resident of one of the damaged apartments, she said she was already asleep when the attack happened. She had to run out of the apartment without any belongings or documents because everything around her was on fire.
“How can you grab anything when you have to run for your life?” she said.
Liudmyla’s apartment was partially burned down, but she couldn’t stay there. Liudmyla is 78, and she has no other place to live. She said she would go to stay with relatives in the village.
Explosions were heard during the conversation with Liudmyla. The Russian forces continue to attack the city, including the Kholodnohirskyi district, where a rescue operation is still underway.
As of now, the State Emergency Service of the Kharkiv oblast reported 41 people injured after the Russian attacks on Kharkiv on Oct. 12.
Read more
- Ukrainian forces ‘advance or maintain positions’ north of Kharkiv oblast, ISW reports
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