UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Apr 27 — Overnight, Russia attacked Kharkiv with missiles, hitting the territory of a regional clinical psychiatry hospital and injuring a patient, local authorities reported.
According to Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov, 900 patients and about 250 employees were at the hospital at the time of the attack. Eighty patients and five employees were at the one of the complex’s building, near which one of the missiles hit.
The missiles hit the ground in the hospital’s yard. According to preliminary investigation’s findings, Russians attacked with an S-300 missile, said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on his Telegram.
“If those missiles hit the buildings [of the hospital complex], there would have been many casualties,” Terekhov said.
He also reports that shelling blew out windows in some buildings, damaged roofs, water pipes, elements of the sewer system, and power lines. The strike also damaged the kitchen. Municipal workers and energy specialists are currently working at the hit site.
“We’ll renew the water supply in several hours. The sewage network sustained more damage, but we believe everything [could be fixed] in a day,” Terekhov said.
Deputy governor Olena Logvynova reported that the psychiatric hospital’s patients won’t be sent to other institutions in the city or region. They are already directed to other departments of the hospital.
Logvynova added that patients have food for today, and a charity organization will provide them with meals tomorrow.
Russia intensified attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and a regional center, in March 2024. The city comes under fire almost daily as Russia attacks Kharkiv’s civilian and critical infrastructure.
On March 22, the Russians destroyed Kharkiv’s heating and power infrastructure. The city and Kharkiv Oblast are currently getting electricity from other Ukrainian oblasts.
On April 22, Russia destroyed a TV broadcasting tower in the city. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) research group believes these attacks are to scare Kharkiv residents and make them leave the city in fear of Russian repeated offensive on the city.
ISW’s assessment, though, is that Russia doesn’t have the capabilities or enough troops to conduct such an offensive on Kharkiv, provided Ukraine receives an already signed US military aid package promptly.
Photo credit: Aftermath of Russian missile attack on Kharkiv that damaged a psychiatric hospital in the city. / Hnat Holyk for Gwara Media
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