On Sunday morning, August 9, 2026, Kharkiv was subjected to a large-scale missile attack by the Russian Federation. The strike hit the Saltivka district, where a multi-story residential building was seriously damaged as a result of the attack. Preliminary data indicates that two people were killed in the incident, and another 12 were injured. A large-scale rescue operation has been launched at the scene, as there is information about people trapped under the rubble.
Scale of destruction and rescue operations
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed in his Telegram channel that a missile hit a residential building. According to him, the floors between the 7th and 10th stories were destroyed. This led to a partial collapse of the building's structure and the blocking of several apartments. Terekhov described the enemy's actions as a "grotesque strike," noting that the adversary is deliberately targeting residential areas. Rescue services are working to free people from under the rubble, although the exact number of trapped individuals is currently being clarified.
Casualties and injured
Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, provided updated data on the casualties of the tragedy. According to his information, two people died on the spot. 12 people sustained injuries of varying severity and were taken to medical facilities where they are receiving emergency care. Among the injured, according to other sources, there are children. The situation remains tense, and authorities are urging residents of the district to exercise caution due to possible secondary collapses of the structure.
Series of attacks on Kharkiv in August
The current incident is part of an ongoing series of attacks on the Kharkiv region. Just a few days ago, on August 5, the city was struck using "Bandrol" type kamikaze drones, which also resulted in casualties and destruction. Earlier, on August 2, drones attacked the suburbs of Kharkiv, hitting a postal terminal. On the night of August 9, before the main strike on the residential building, a warehouse of the "Utro" publishing corporation and the "Kniholennd" distribution center was attacked, where millions of books were burned. These events indicate a systematic attempt to destabilize the situation in the region and damage civilian infrastructure.
Contradictory data
There are discrepancies in casualty figures across various sources. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov in his initial messages reported on the injured, clarifying their numbers later, but did not immediately name the dead. At the same time, the Head of the RMA, Oleh Syniehubov, immediately confirmed the death of two people. Some external sources (for example, Glavred) in headlines mention a "deceased" (singular) and "dozens of wounded," which may indicate a delay in updating data or differences in counts at different stages of the aftermath. In this article, priority is given to the official statements of the Head of the RMA, who confirmed the death of two people.
Government response and further actions
City and regional authorities condemned the actions of the Russian military, calling strikes on civilian objects "cynical" and "barbaric." All emergency services are working at the scene: firefighters, medics, and rescuers. The liquidation of the consequences of the shelling continues. Authorities are urging residents of the Saltivka district to remain vigilant and not approach the damaged building until the rubble removal work is completed.
