A journalist of the Hromadske Radio: The number of injured in Kharkiv has increased to 43, 26 are seriously injured

The number of people injured in Kharkiv as a result of a Russian drone strike on a high-rise building on 15 September has risen to 43, with 23 of them sustaining serious or moderate injuries.

This information was reported by Hromadske Radio correspondent Anna Chernenko:

«As for the rescue operation, it was suspended yesterday around 8:00 p.m., immediately after the fire was fully extinguished and the body of a missing person was found. Working at night is very difficult. Although additional lighting was provided since the building itself had no power, the operation will resume in the morning when rescuers return. We need to assess the damage to the building to facilitate the work of investigators and other experts.»

Chernenko also mentioned that there would be updated information on the victims later:

«Right now, the victims have been sent to medical facilities. There are both children and adults with various injuries. Doctors are currently conducting rounds, so we’ll have updated information soon. As of last evening, 43 people were injured, with 26 suffering severe or moderate injuries. Among the most seriously injured were a woman and a 12-year-old boy, who has wounds to his abdomen and chest. In total, four children required medical assistance. The youngest is a one-year-old boy with a head injury, while the second youngest is a four-year-old girl with shrapnel in her hand. No new victims have been reported. Based on previous experiences with shelling, many people will be discharged for outpatient care, but I estimate that about two dozen will remain in Kharkiv hospitals for further treatment.»

Regarding the damage to the building, Chernenko said:

«The apartments affected are mainly in the stairwell of the 12-storey building that was hit, as well as two neighboring ones. The fire started on the 3rd floor and affected apartments from the 9th to the 12th floor. In total, about ten buildings were damaged, all of them 12-storey buildings, forming a block of high-rises.

Yesterday, we spoke with volunteers who had just been given permission to start covering windows and sealing the structure with slabs. They estimated that around 1,500 windows need to be sealed. The work began yesterday and will continue today. Access to the building that was struck has not yet been permitted. Investigators have only escorted a few people inside to retrieve documents, phones, warm clothing, and blankets. People were allowed into the lower floors of the affected building under police and State Emergency Service supervision. However, access to higher floors remains restricted to investigators and experts. They were searching for the body of a missing 94-year-old woman, reportedly being sought by her daughter. DNA testing of the body is ongoing to confirm her identity. No other neighbors have reported anyone else missing, so it is assumed that the body belongs to the elderly woman.»

Chernenko summarized the resettlement efforts for those displaced by the attack:

«People are being relocated to educational institutions, hotels, and social centers. Nearby schools are offering help, where food and supplies are being brought. Volunteers are on site, informing residents about how to register their damaged property, where they can spend the night, and where to find essentials like blankets. Local and regional authorities were also present yesterday.»

Strike on Kharkiv

On 15 September, Russian forces struck a multi-storey residential building in Kharkiv using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Spartak Borysenko, Head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in the Context of Armed Conflict at the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, stated that the attack was launched from Belgorod Oblast in Russia:

«Around 3:20 p.m., Russian military personnel launched guided aerial bombs from a Su-34 aircraft near Tomarivka in the Belgorod region. One of the bombs struck a 12-storey building between the 9th and 10th floors», — Borysenko said.

By 6:33 p.m., the number of victims had risen to 41. At 7:01 p.m., the fire, which covered an area of 600 square meters, was contained, and firefighting, rubble removal, and rescue operations were ongoing.

At 8:23 p.m., the number of injured had increased to 42, including four children: three boys aged 1, 12, and 13, and a 4-year-old girl.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that at least three high-rise buildings and 19 cars were damaged.

By 9:08 p.m., rescuers had uncovered the body of a deceased person on the 9th floor. Identification was not immediately possible, and DNA testing is being carried out. It is believed to be the missing 94-year-old woman.

At 9:10 p.m., Oleg Sinegubov confirmed the death of one woman.

By 10:00 p.m., the fire in the 12-storey building had been extinguished, and rescue operations were temporarily suspended. Preliminary reports indicate that no people remain trapped under the rubble.