KHARKIV OBLAST, Feb 19 — The Russian shelling of Kupiansk on February 17 killed Viktor Tsukanov, an electric and welder at the Kupiansk high-voltage district of power grids.

The press service of Kharkivoblenergo [a Ukrainian energy supply company — ed.] reported this on Telegram.

A Russian aerial bomb that hit a residential building in Kupiansk killed a man. He was 59 years old and had worked at the Kharkivoblenergo since 1986. He stayed in Kupiansk during the war and continued to perform his duties.

“Viktor Oleksandrovych was an amiable and sincere person. He always smiled and treated others well. He was respected for his reliability, hard work, and responsible approach to his duties. Viktor took on any job, not just welding, and did everything he was asked to help with. He was a very hard worker — a real man, as they say, [good with his hands]. In his spare time, he often helped his colleagues and neighbors with various household issues: repairing or making something. This is a heavy loss for all of us,” said colleagues of the deceased man.

Read more: Russian Shelling Damaged Educational Institutions, Hospital, and Houses in Kharkiv Region

What is known about the shelling of Kupiansk on February 17

On February 17, between 1:00 and 1:40 p.m., the Russian military dropped 12 aerial bombs on the city. The bombs hit residential buildings, including apartment blocks. As of now, it’s been reported that the attack killed a woman and injured five civilians, three women and two men. People are still under the rubble. Police and rescuers are working at the hit site.

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, noted that the attack destroyed a two-story building with two entrances and damaged at least five private houses. Two women are in the hospital with injuries, and one civilian man was treated on the spot.