Russia hits Kharkiv high-rise with guided aerial bombs, injuring people including children

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that explosions were heard in the city at around 3:20 p.m. He later confirmed that the attack hit a multi-story residential building, leading to a fire and significant damage.

Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, stated that civilian infrastructure in the Nemyshlianskyi district was also affected. At least three people were reported injured.

As of 3:52 p.m., Syniehubov updated that 25 people, including three children, had been injured in the attack.

Later, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed that a rescue operation was underway in Kharkiv. 

“An ordinary residential building, a multi-story building, was damaged. There is a fire and rubble between the 9th and 12th floors. At the moment, we know about almost 30 injured people, including children. All services are involved in rescuing people. I am grateful to everyone who is helping,” he said.

At 4:18 p.m., Terekhov said that the number of wounded had increased to 33.

“We already know about 33 wounded civilians in the high-rise. The enemy hit the 10th floor of the building, the fire spread to four floors - from the 9th to the 12th. Rescue and firefighting operations are underway. All relevant services are working at the scene,” he wrote.

Later, Syniehubov clarified that Russian troops had hit Kharkiv and the area with six anti-aircraft missiles.

He also added that three of the wounded are in serious condition.

“The rescue and search operation continues. One block of the building was destroyed. The fire is on the 9th floor. At least 1,500 windows are damaged. Dozens of damaged cars,” he wrote.

As of 4:55 p.m., 35 people have been reported injured, Terekhov said, including 3 children.

At 5:19 p.m., Syniehubov reported that 12 out of 35 wounded were hospitalized.

“As of this moment, 12 people have been hospitalized as a result of the strike on a high-rise building in Kharkiv. Other victims are being treated on the spot. One woman and a 12-year-old boy are in serious condition,” he said.

Later he added that the State Emergency Service rescued a man and his dog from the 12th floor. 

“There are still people under the rubble, three apartments have been completely destroyed,” noted Syniehubov.

Initially, at 6:27 p.m., Syniehubov reported 44 injured, but later he edited the information to say that 41 people were injured.

“Among the adults, the victims are aged 33 to 86. Among the victims are three children aged 1, 4, 12. As of this moment, 14 people have been hospitalized. The rescue operation is ongoing,” he added.

In the evening, Ihor Terekhov and Oleh Syniehubov reported that rescuers had pulled a woman's body from the rubble. As of 9:00 p.m., one person was killed and 42 were injured as a result of the Russian attack.

On the morning of September 16, Kharkiv Regional Council member Oleksandr Skoryk spoke on Espreso about the victim.

"The deceased was born in 1930, having survived the Nazi occupation and the Holodomor. Sadly, it was her house in Kharkiv that was hit by a guided bomb yesterday. Unfortunately, the grim statistics show that 44 people were injured yesterday, three are in critical condition, and one person was killed," he said.

According to the Regional Military Administration, 43 people (including 4 children) were injured in the attack. One person was killed - the details are being verified.

• On September 14, the Russian army struck a power facility in the Sumy region. One employee was killed and seven others were injured.