Russian forces shell hospital in Kharkiv region

Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Poltava regional military administration, said this in a statement released on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The Russian occupiers hit the Balakliia district hospital. The building was partially damaged. Patients and staff need immediate evacuation. These are about 70 patients and medical staff. We are doing everything to save people," the official said.

Syniehubov stressed that this is another war crime committed against civilians in the Kharkiv region. He recalled that Balakliia was temporarily occupied by the invaders and the city mayor went to cooperate with the occupiers.

"Russia's shelling of the civilian population is an attempt by the occupiers to accuse the Ukrainian Armed Forces of attacking civilians, another cynical lie by Russian propaganda and military provocation," he said.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying infrastructure and residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns and villages, using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced.