Photo: SES
Russians fired guided aerial bombs at several districts in Kharkiv. One of the bombs hit a multi-storey building, resulting in 12 known casualties, including a three-year-old girl.
Anna Chernenko, a correspondent for Hromadske Radio in Kharkiv, reported on the aftermath of the attack on Hromadske Radio.
«The night was really difficult. Two guided aerial bombs were launched across the city. One hit the Saltivskyy district, and the other struck the forest park. Fortunately, the damage in the park wasn’t severe. Two more bombs were also fired at Zolochiv.»
Anna notes that the exact number of people injured in the strike is still unknown.
«Since the UAV hit between the fourth and fifth floors of the building, which is made of slabs, the structure may collapse at any time, complicating the rescue efforts. Rescuers are working at the scene, trying to clear the rubble as quickly as possible.
So far, the exact number of victims remains unclear. Hopefully, later we won’t have to report additional fatalities. The work of the rescuers is incredibly important right now, and it is still ongoing.»
The correspondent added that injured residents are continuing to seek medical help.
«People survived the night and are now realizing they have injuries they cannot handle on their own, such as cuts or concussions. Doctors also stress the importance of getting a free tetanus shot for those who haven’t been vaccinated yet. With this kind of shelling, it’s easy to get infected, and tetanus is a very serious disease with a complicated mortality rate.»
Anna mentioned that the residents of the building have been evacuated. Those in need of resettlement are being accommodated in dormitories or hotels, while others are staying with relatives or friends:
«When we started working in Saltivka, the neighborhood felt like a close-knit community. People tend to live near each other. Yesterday, my colleague met a man who immediately rushed to save his mother after the explosion. She lived on the top floor of the building that was hit. She sustained some injuries, but thankfully, they weren’t severe.»
Anna also raised the possibility that this building had been hit again:
«I can’t confirm it for sure, but given the ongoing Russian shelling of Saltovka, it’s a reasonable assumption. Let’s remember the recent repeated shelling of a building that was about to be repaired, only for it to be hit again.»
As of 11:00, 12 people were confirmed injured in the strikes on Kharkiv districts by the bombs, including a three-year-old girl. According to mayor Synehubov, there may still be people trapped under the rubble, and the rescue operation is ongoing.
The State Emergency Service later reported that a fire caused by the airstrike had been extinguished in Kharkiv.
«At 00:30 on October 3, rescuers managed to completely extinguish a 65 sq. meter fire in a five-storey residential building that was hit by a Russian guided aerial bomb. Emergency and rescue operations at the strike site are still underway.»
Additionally, at around 5:00 a.m., explosions were heard in the city again. It is reported that the latest strike on the suburbs damaged high-voltage transmission lines, which may lead to power outages in some areas of Kharkiv.