Russian drone strike hits Kharkiv dormitory and downtown, there are injured

As of 07:20, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine informed that as a result of a nighttime drone attack, two buildings were destroyed, and a fire broke out in one. 

On the night of August 1, drones launched by the enemy attacked Kharkiv. One UAV hit a three-story building of a college in the Saltivskyi district, causing partial destruction to the 2nd and 3rd floors, as well as the floor and roof. A fire also broke out, covering an area of approximately 200 square meters.

Three more hits were recorded at a sports complex in the Shevchenkivsky district of Kharkiv, partially damaging a two-story building. One person was injured, and their condition is being checked by doctors.

The Chief of Police of the Kharkiv Region, Volodymyr Tymoshko, reported the consequences of the attack, Suspilne informed. 

The police chief previously stated that there were around six or seven drones. One of them hit the education building, but no one was inside at the time. In the central part of the city, a man got injured, and his condition is being assessed by medics, said Tymoshko.

The reasons for using Shahed drones will be investigated by the Armed Forces, according to Tymoshko. The Russian Federation is also checking its air defense system.

Tymoshko mentioned that there were no military facilities or gatherings of servicemen in the areas where the drones struck.

A correspondent from Suspilne Kharkiv reported that about half of the three-story college building was destroyed, and two floors collapsed.

Later, it was reported that a Russian drone caused a fire at the Pedagogical and Technical School in Kharkiv. Thankfully, there were no people inside the building at the time of the incident, according to Suspilne Kharkiv.

"They are attacking randomly all around the city, hitting various targets, including civilians, infrastructure, and energy facilities," said Tymoshko.

Tymoshko mentioned that there were about six or seven Shahed drones, some of which were destroyed by anti-aircraft defense, while others hit civilian objects unrelated to military infrastructure. 

“Preliminary information indicates that there is one person injured in the central part of the city. The severity of the injuries will be determined later,” according to the head of the police.

Volodymyr Tymoshko suggested that the drone attack might be an attempt by the Russian Federation to test the region's air defense capabilities.

“The drones were launched from the Belgorod region of Russia, hitting an educational institution in the Saltivskyi district and a sports facility in the Shevchenkivskyi district.”

A guard at the sports facility in Shevchenkivskyi district was injured and taken to the hospital.

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The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, initially reported the drone attack on Telegram. He mentioned three explosions in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Detailed information from the City Hall stated that two explosions were heard, drones hitting non-residential premises and causing a fire. No information about victims was available at that time.

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, confirmed the Russian attack and urged residents to seek shelter. He later added that a fire broke out at the impact site, and emergency services were responding. There was no information on casualties, according to him. 

Mayor Ihor Terekhov later clarified that there were at least three drone hits in the city center, including one that struck a dormitory building. The dormitory's two floors were destroyed, and a fire broke out. Units of the State Emergency Service were working on the scene, and information about victims was being confirmed.

The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces initially reported threats of ballistic missile attacks on the city, followed by warnings about enemy tactical aircraft activity in the north-eastern direction. They also warned about the possibility of drone attacks.

• On the night of July 31, the Russians fired at Kharkiv with S-300 missiles, a man was injured.