On the morning of 9 August, Russia launched a missile strike on the Saltivskyi district of Kharkiv. One of the missiles struck a block of flats: two people were killed and at least 13 sought medical attention. According to the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, a rescue operation is underway at the scene, during which the damaged part of the building is being assessed.
Briefly about the main points
- A rocket attack took place on the morning of 9 August in the Saltivskyi district.
- The building’s structural elements and floor slabs between the seventh and tenth floors have been destroyed.
- Two deaths have been confirmed.
- At least 13 people sought medical assistance.
- Other hits were recorded in an office block and in a park.
Explosions were heard this morning; several floors were damaged
The first explosion in the city occurred at around 06:58, with two more recorded at approximately 07:11 and 07:12. The city’s chairman Igor Terekhov reported that a residential block of flats had been hit.
Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Oleg Sinegubov He clarified that the building had been struck by a missile. The explosion destroyed the structural elements and floor slabs between the seventh and tenth floors. In the early stages of the operation, the authorities reported that people might still be trapped under the rubble.
Rescue workers are checking flats and dismantling structures
Units from the State Emergency Service, medical staff, the police and municipal services are working at the scene. The emergency services are clearing away the damaged structures and inspecting the flats in the collapsed section of the building.
Information on the number of casualties was updated throughout the morning: initially, six people were reported to be in need of assistance, then the figure rose to nine and then to 12. These figures may change as rescue workers continue to assess the damaged building.
The second strike hit an office block, and the third hit a park
Immediately after the attack, reports emerged that a neighbouring high-rise block may have been hit. The Kharkiv Regional Military Administration later clarified that there had been no direct hit on the second residential block: the missile had struck an office building nearby.
Another strike was recorded in one of the parks in the Saltivskyi district, Terekhov reported. Following the rescue operation, the damaged building may require a structural engineering assessment to determine whether it is safe for continued use.
