Shock Moment Russia Bombs Kharkiv Council Building This Morning
This is the shocking moment the Kharkiv City Council building is shelled by Russian forces this morning.
The footage shows Kharkiv’s council building and area around Freedom Square being bombed by invading Russian forces on the morning of 1st March.
As Russia’s invasion enters its sixth day, satellite images reportedly show a 40-mile military convoy approaching the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from the north.
On Monday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a formal request to join the EU. However, bombing raids continued across the country throughout the night, including in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city.
Officials in Kharkiv called last night’s bombing campaign “genocide” and claimed Russia has been using banned weapons such as cluster bombs on residential areas.
Ukrainian officials said Russian forces are trying to encircle the city and block routes in and out.
Regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said: “The shelling of residential buildings and the civilian population today showed clear signs of genocide. The enemy has again violated all universal principles of humanism by committing another crime against the peaceful Ukrainian people.
“The aggressor today used weapons prohibited by all international conventions – in particular, cluster bombs that exploded in residential areas of Dzerzhinsky and Kievsky district of Kharkiv. There was no military infrastructure here. Therefore, there is no justification for this crime.”
It is unclear how many people died in the night raid, with local media reporting 11, but Sinegubov said it is not possible to count the number of victims due to the ongoing shelling.
He said: “We are working to restore the city’s infrastructure to avoid a humanitarian crisis. I promise that we will not let this happen. So far we are receiving a large amount of humanitarian aid. We have setup three logistics centres in Kharkiv and received great support from local business owners helping with medicines, food, clothing, etc.
“Today, we are all in solidarity and united. We will stand and we will definitely win!”
Kharkiv City mayor Ihor Terekhov said: “For the first time in its long history, shells hit residential buildings, killing and maiming innocent civilians. The city of Kharkiv has never known such destruction in recent history. Four people left a bomb shelter to get water and were killed.
“A family, two adults and three children, burned alive in a car. It’s really terrible, and we must get through this together.”
The mayor thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine and healthcare workers for helping to save the lives of local residents as well as brave council workers who are restoring damaged power lines, sometimes while under fire.
Mayor Terekhov added that humanitarian aid has begun to arrive in the city, including baby food and hygiene products, and he thanked his Western partners for supplying the items, adding that they will be distributed to those who need it.