Kharkiv strike injures 25 as Moscow denies attack
Kharkiv strike injures 25 as Moscow denies attack
Russian missiles hit a Kharkiv apartment block, injuring 25 as rescuers pull survivors from rubble; Moscow denies involvement, citing Ukrainian ammunition detonation.
A Russian missile strike hit a multi-storey apartment building in Kharkiv on Friday, injuring at least 25 people as rescue crews worked through rubble and debris. Officials said 16 of the wounded were in hospital, including a woman in serious condition, and customers may have been in shops and a cafe on the first floor when the explosion occurred. Emergency teams were shown combing through the wreckage, with rising smoke and damaged facades visible in photographs and video from the scene.
Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov told Ukrainian television that two ballistic missiles struck the area, nearly destroying the five-storey dwelling. He said rescue teams remained on site, prioritising the search for anyone trapped beneath the rubble and assisting those already injured.
Local authorities cautioned that casualty figures could change as the operation continued, while the scale of destruction underscored the vulnerability of civilians in the northeastern city. Kharkiv has faced repeated bombardments in the broader conflict, and officials emphasised the importance of rapid emergency response to save lives.
Russia’s Defence Ministry issued a sharply different account, saying reports of an attack were untrue and suggesting the blast resulted from the detonation of Ukrainian ammunition stored at a nearby shopping centre called Persona. The ministry posted footage claiming to show thick smoke before the explosion, framing the incident as a diversion from a separate New Year’s Eve strike it blamed on Ukraine in the Russian-held Kherson region.
The Kharkiv episode follows the broader pattern of the war, where pressure on civilians remains high even as Moscow denies direct responsibility for specific strikes. The city’s strategic location near the border has made it a frequent flashpoint, drawing international attention to civilian harm and the ongoing humanitarian response.
As authorities scramble to assist the injured and account for all residents, residents of Kharkiv endure another day of fear and disruption, with emergency services urging calm and patience while rescue operations continue. Kharkiv’s residents and aid workers hope for clearer information and a restoration of basic services as investigations into the incident proceed.
