The Russian glide bomb attack on Kharkiv in photos
Sixteen people have been confirmed dead while at least 40 were injured
Smoke rises from the Epitsentr home improvement hypermarket following a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, May 25, 2024. Photo: Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters / Scanpix / LETA
Russian forces dropped two glide bombs on Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv on Saturday, which hit the Epitsentr construction hypermarket during it’s busiest time. According to the Ukrainian authorities, there could have been as many as 200 people inside the building when the bombs struck it. Immediately after the impact, a fire broke out in the shopping centre, which engulfed the entire shopping complex. Sixteen people were confirmed to have been killed, with at least 40 are known to have been injured. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the Russian military struck the city again, this time targeting a residential area in the centre of Kharkiv and injuring 14.
The Russians used UMPB D-30 glide bombs to target the DIY hypermarket, according to preliminary data provided by the Kharkiv Region’s Prosecutor’s Office, Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne reported.
“This attack on Kharkiv is another manifestation of Russian madness, there is just no other way to put it,” Zelensky said, adding that: “Only such madmen as Putin are capable of killing and terrorising people in such a vile way.”
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that there were still approximately 15 members of hypermarket staff missing, and called the strike “pure terrorism”. He also reported a second Russian airstrike on the city centre.
