On July 28, a powerful explosion rocked Kharkiv. Russian forces attacked the city with a Shahed-type loitering munition. The strike hit the Novobavarskyi district, where the drone struck a five-story residential building. The incident caused a large-scale fire, and the number of casualties continues to rise.
Timeline of the Tragedy
The first report of the impact came from Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov at 17:15. Just twelve minutes later, at 17:27, he provided details: a loitering munition struck the multi-story building, and a fire broke out immediately. All relevant services, including firefighters and rescue workers, were immediately deployed to mitigate the consequences.
Subsequently, Terekhov confirmed that the attack was carried out specifically by a Shahed loitering munition. The fire quickly engulfed the roof of the building; however, all residents of the building were evacuated promptly before the situation got out of control.
Consequences of the Attack and Casualties
The situation regarding casualties is developing rapidly. As of 17:44, two injured people were already known. Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleh Syniehubov clarified that, according to preliminary data, a 67-year-old woman was injured and received necessary medical assistance.
However, by 18:02, the number of casualties had risen to five people. Rescue services continue to work at the scene, and medical personnel are providing aid to the injured. The fire on the roof of the building covered an area of approximately 200 square meters. Additionally, the infrastructure was damaged by the blast wave: windows were broken in nearby apartment buildings, and a civilian vehicle was damaged.
Context of Escalation
This incident is not an isolated event. Just two days earlier, on July 26, Russian forces struck the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv with a "Banderyol" type munition. At that time, the projectile hit a private residential house, resulting in the death of a 40-year-old woman. Another 12 people were injured, including two children. That attack also damaged more than ten private houses.
