‘They killed a pregnant woman.’ Russian missile attack on Chuhuiv leaves 3 killed, 6 injured, causes destruction in city (Photo)

UKRAINE, CHUHUIV, Jun. 9 — Overnight, Russia launched two missiles at Chuhuiv, the city located 36 kilometers (22 miles) from Kharkiv, killing three, including a pregnant woman, and injuring six people. 

Gwara Media journalists visited the impact sites in the city.

The consequences of the Russian attack on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv oblast on Jun. 9 / Photo: Gwara Media, Mia Klushnikova

Ruslan, a volunteer who helps Chuhuiv residents affected by the Russian attack, says the first explosion was heard around 2 a.m.

“At first, we didn’t realize what had happened. Then Roman, a local, called me and said there was a strike on Yakira Street, in the house where his father lives,” Ruslan said.

The consequences of the Russian attack on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv oblast on Jun. 9 / Photo: Gwara Media, Mia Klushnikova

Ruslan added that by the time he arrived at the impact site, a fire had already broken out. People were leaving their homes carrying their belongings.

“Then it became known that they had killed a pregnant woman. That was a huge shock for everyone,” Ruslan says.

In total, the Russian attack damaged houses, vehicles, garages, and civilian infrastructure. Russians also hit the market in Chuhuiv.

The consequences of the Russian attack on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv oblast on Jun. 9 / Photo: Gwara Media, Mia Klushnikova

“We rent out the premises to civilian businesses. There used to be an optics store, Smile Market (Ukrainian chain store), a coffee shop, and a meat shop here. Part of the building is residential — an elderly woman lived there. There are no military facilities here,” says Vladislav,  the representative of the market’s owner.

He also said that fragments of the missile’s warhead were found among the debris.

“I was collecting remnants of the missile. There were metal balls inside,” he said.

The consequences of the Russian attack on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv oblast on Jun. 9 / Photo: Gwara Media, Mia Klushnikova

The consequences of the Russian attack on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv oblast on Jun. 9 / Photo: Gwara Media, Mia Klushnikova

The “metal balls” mentioned by Vladislav allegedly refers to cluster munitions. Today, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported that Russians started to equip Kalibr missiles with cluster munitions. However, Kharkiv regional officials didn’t disclose the type of missiles that hit Chuhuiv. 

The consequences of the Russian attack on Chuhuiv in Kharkiv oblast on Jun. 9 / Photo: Gwara Media, Mia Klushnikova

Currently, the municipal workers, volunteers and simple residents of the city are repairing everything that Russia has damaged tonight. 

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