Fatalities in Northeastern Ukraine as Russian Missile Strike Claims Lives of a Child and His Grandmother

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A missile attack carried out by Russian forces resulted in the deaths of a 10-year-old boy and his grandmother in Kharkiv, a city in northeastern Ukraine, according to official sources. In another part of the region, local residents were making funeral arrangements for the 52 civilians who lost their lives in an earlier strike, marking one of the most devastating episodes in the conflict in recent times.

Journalists from Big Big News witnessed rescue teams extracting the young boy’s body from the wreckage of a building following the dawn attack. He was attired in Spider-Man themed sleepwear at the time.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, announced via Telegram that the assault also resulted in injuries to an infant, just shy of one year old. Oleh Syniehubov, the Regional Governor, further elaborated that the incident left 30 people injured in total, as rescue operations continued.

Initial assessments suggest that the Russian military deployed two Iskander missiles during the strike on Kharkiv, identical to the weaponry used in the previous day’s fatal attack on the village of Hroza, where 52 individuals perished.

In Hroza, cemetery workers were busy clearing trees and cutting grass to make space for the graves of those killed. The burials are planned near the final resting place of Ukrainian soldier Andrii Kozyr, whose memorial service the villagers were attending when the strike occurred.

The village, with a population of approximately 300, saw many of its residents lose family members or friends. Mourning gatherings were held in the largely vacant village center, where humanitarian aid, including home-repair materials, was also being distributed.

Floral tributes and candles were placed in a courtyard near a café that had been destroyed by the missile strike as a memorial to the deceased.

In Kharkiv, one of the missiles struck a road, creating a crater, while another hit a three-story building, causing a fire, as reported by Syniehubov.

The explosion caused widespread damage to the surrounding area, leaving debris scattered and buildings blackened. Windows were shattered, and parked vehicles were damaged by the impact.

A resident of a neighboring nine-story building, Yevhen Shevchenko, described experiencing a strong blast wave that resulted in broken windows and doors in his apartment.

In a related incident in the village of Hroza, a Russian Iskander missile had demolished a café and a store a day earlier, killing no fewer than 51 civilians, said Ukrainian officials. About 60 individuals, children included, were in attendance at a wake in the café when it was struck.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, refuted allegations that Russia was accountable for the Hroza attack, reiterating Moscow’s previous assertions that it does not target civilian infrastructure.

According to a statement from Ukraine’s presidential office, the deaths in Hroza constituted the majority of the 54 civilian fatalities in Ukraine over the preceding 24-hour period. Volker Türk, the U.N. human rights chief, expressed his shock and sorrow over the Hroza attack.

Human rights monitors from the U.N. plan to investigate the site, emphasizing the importance of holding those responsible accountable, the office stated on its social media channel.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Spain for a European leaders’ summit, described the strike as a “clearly heinous act of Russian aggression” and a “deliberate act of terrorism.” He indicated that his diplomatic endeavors had yielded results, including the acquisition of more air defense systems and long-range weapons for Ukraine.

This military aid is particularly vital for Ukraine, which aims to counter further attacks like those in Kharkiv and is also apprehensive about Moscow renewing targeted assaults on power facilities in the winter months.

In international diplomacy, concerns are growing about the depletion of European ammunition and military hardware, and potential waning of Western support for Ukraine’s war efforts.

The Swedish government announced plans to dispatch military assistance to Ukraine valued at 2.2 billion kronor (approximately $199 million), primarily in the form of 155-millimeter artillery ammunition.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that a MiG-31 fighter jet was deployed to trail a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft approaching Russian airspace over the Norwegian Sea. The U.S. aircraft altered its course away from Russian territory as the Russian jet approached, abiding by international rules of engagement.

Incidents of intercepts like these have become increasingly commonplace, with both Russia and Western nations having protocols to deploy fighter jets should an aircraft from the opposing side approach their borders.

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News correspondents Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia.

For ongoing coverage of the conflict in Ukraine, visit Big Big News’ website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Russian missile attacks in northeastern Ukraine

More about Russian missile attacks in northeastern Ukraine

• Official statement from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• United Nations Human Rights Statement on Ukraine
• Swedish Government’s Announcement on Military Aid to Ukraine
• Russian Ministry of Defense Statement on MiG-31 Incident
• Humanitarian Aid Distribution in Affected Ukrainian Regions
• Update on Political Turmoil in the United States and its impact on Ukraine
• European Military Hardware and Ammunition Stock Status