In Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, a Russian strike on a construction products hypermarket resulted in at least two fatalities and 24 injuries. President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the attack, stating that over 200 people may have been present at the time of impact. The regional governor, Oleg Synegoubov, confirmed the casualties and injuries while Mayor Igor Terekhov described the incident as “pure and simple terrorism.” Additionally, he reported that 15 employees were missing and approximately 200 people were inside the building during the strike.
Volodymyr Zelensky called on Western allies to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine to prevent further attacks like this one. The city of Kharkiv, situated near the Russian border, has been a frequent target for Russian forces, resulting in civilian casualties and destruction. French President Emmanuel Macron showed solidarity with Ukraine and condemned the attack on the shopping center.
This assault on the hypermarket in Kharkiv is just one example of a series of attacks by Russian forces in the region. Despite these attacks, Ukraine stated that they had ceased, and reinforcements were sent to the area to resist Russia’s offensive. The ongoing violence in Kharkiv and surrounding areas underscores the urgent need for international support to protect civilians in Ukraine.
