Ballistic strike on residential building in Kharkiv: Injury toll rises to 19, people trapped under rubble

In Kharkiv, Russian forces carried out a ballistic strike on a five-story residential building in the city center, injuring 19 people.

According to Ukrinform, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Oleksii Kuleba stated this on Telegram.

"A horrific enemy strike on Kharkiv - the occupiers hit a residential five-story building in the city center with ballistic weapons. As of now, there are already 19 wounded," Kuleba wrote.

He stressed that strikes on residential buildings in the center of a city of over a million residents constitute a gross war crime against humanity and international humanitarian law, and that Russia must bear full responsibility for every life destroyed, every person injured, and every home ruined.

According to Kuleba, all emergency services are working at the scene, providing assistance to the injured and clearing the debris, under which people may be trapped.

The rescue operation is ongoing, with actions coordinated with city and regional authorities.

As reported by Head of the Regional Military Administration Oleh Syniehubov, people may still be trapped under the rubble of the building.

"There is information that people are still under the debris. Search operations are ongoing. Units of the State Emergency Service, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical teams are working at the scene. Everything possible is being done to rescue all those affected as quickly as possible," he noted.

As reported earlier, on January 2 at around 14:30, Russian troops struck a residential five-story building in Kharkiv's Kyivskyi district with ballistic weapons. At the time, 16 people were reported injured. The building was completely destroyed, and neighboring buildings were also damaged.