UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Jul 11 — At around 05:30 a.m., the Russian military launched drones — presumably Geran-2 Shahed-type kamikaze drones — at Kharkiv, with two of them hitting near a maternity hospital in the center of the city. The attack injured nine people.
Gwara Media journalists worked at the impact site to document the consequences of the attack.
A Russian attack damaged and set on fire an abandoned four-story building, a dentist clinic, and the roof of a residential building — the flames spread over 50 square meters, reports the region’s State Emergency Service (SES). Drones also damaged residential apartment buildings, a maternity hospital, shops, garages, and cars.
As of 3:00 p.m., authorities report the Russian attack injured seven women and two men. One person got cut by the blown-out glass, and the rest are experiencing an acute stress reaction.
Seven women and three infants were in the maternity hospitals, along with 13 employees, were in the maternity hospital during Russian attack.
“We had women who gave birth yesterday and the day before yesterday here, and women post-surgery. All of them went through extreme stress, and we’ve transferred them to another hospital for further treatment,” Oleksandr Kondratskyi, a medical director of obstetrics and gynecology in the hospital, said to Gwara.
Kondratskyi added that the attack damaged a surgery room and birthing halls. The building’s windows and doors were blown out, and some equipment was destroyed. None of the employees were injured.
“During the first hit, I was in bed. After, I turned to lie on the other side and understood that everything was bad, that I needed to save myself. I went to the bathroom and closed myself in,” says Oleh, a witness to the morning Russian attack.
The second explosion was even more powerful. “There was a sound, a woosh of sorts… I thought it’s glide bombs,” Oleh shares. “I exited the bathroom, and everything in the room was covered in glass. Then I got outside, and the windows in my car were also blown out.”
Olena was in the basement during the shelling. “We live on the second floor, and I’m very anxious. I go to the shelter after every air raid alarm. I’ve already seen that “Shaheds” are approaching. Nudged my husband, and we went down along with our dog.”
They were sitting on the stairs to the basement when they heard the explosion.
“The dust went up, the glass was blasted off… then, another explosion,” Olena recalls. It’s the same in their flat — blown-out windows, damaged doors. “Thank god we went to the basement; thank god for my anxiety. Everyone’s (neighbors — ed.) okay, thank god.”
Cover photo: Mother and her child in Saltivskyi district of Kharkiv after the Russian morning attack on the maternity hospital, July 11, 2025 / Hnat Holyk, Gwara Media
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