Russia attacks Kharkiv, injures 3, sets civilian businesses on fire (Photo)

UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Jul 30 — At night on July 30, Russian forces launched attack drones Geran-2 at the Shevchenkivskyi and Slobidskyi districts of Kharkiv, said the Prosecutor’s Office of Kharkiv Oblast.

Gwara Media’s journalists worked at the impact site in Shevchenkivskyi district to document the consequences of another Russian attack.

Car that burned down after the overnight Russian drone attack on Kharkiv on Jul 30, 2025 / Photo: Liubov Yemets, Gwara Media

Russian forces continue their attacks on civilians in Kharkiv and the region. Over the past day, Russia killed six and injured eight people in Kharkiv Oblast, said Oleh Syneihubov, the governor.

An overnight Russian attack injured a 25-year-old woman, a 62-year-old woman, and a 33-year-old man. The medics immediately checked their condition and helped them.

People signing up for receiving aid from UNICEF after the overnight Russian drone attack on Kharkiv on Jul 30, 2025 / Photo: Liubov Yemets, Gwara Media

The Russian attack set a cafe, shop, and car wash on fire — the flames spread to nearby cars. The explosive wave blew out windows in the nearest residential houses. 

“I live across the street. At 3:00 a.m., I heard the sound of the Shahed. It hit a cafe that was closed, a car wash. At least no one was killed. All the windows in the houses were blown out. Did you see what happened to the car? It’s terrible,” said Oleksandr, a local from the Shevchenskivskyi district.

People repairing the ceiling damaged after the overnight Russian drone attack on Kharkiv on Jul 30, 2025 / Photo: Liubov Yemets, Gwara Media

Viktoriia, another local, said that she and her family were sleeping when they heard the explosion.

“Everything happened so quickly, I don’t even remember how. Then we saw a cafe on fire, lots of smoke. Glass fell in the kitchen, and windows were broken. My daughter didn’t even wake up after the explosion because she’s probably already hardened, unfortunately,” she said.

People boarding up the window blasted out after the overnight Russian drone attack on Kharkiv on Jul 30, 2025 / Photo: Liubov Yemets, Gwara Media

In the Slobidskyi district, 500 square meters of dry grass burned after the attack, with no reports of casualties.

Read more

• Russia damaged over 1,528 cultural heritage sites, including 336 in Kharkiv Oblast

Gwara is a Kharkiv-based independent newsroom that works to tell you about our vibrant home while it resists Russia’s war of aggression and endures through its consequences. Please, consider buying our journalists a coffee or subscribing to our Patreon to support our reporting long-term.