Russian Shelling Claims 1 Life, Injures 7 in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia

Russian Shelling Claims 1 Life, Injures 7 in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia

In a tragic incident, one civilian lost their life, and another individual was wounded due to Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Additionally, seven people sustained injuries in a village located in Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian officials on Sunday.

The regions of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine’s eastern and southeastern areas have been embroiled in intense conflict for the past 17 months since Russia’s invasion. The Ukrainian forces have been engaged in a struggle to liberate areas currently under Russian control.

Last year, Russia controversially declared the annexation of Zaporizhzhia and other parts of Ukraine, including the region’s largest nuclear power plant. However, the city of Zaporizhzhia itself remains under the control of Kyiv.

In September, Ukraine successfully recaptured a significant portion of the eastern Kharkiv region, with Russian forces now limited to a small strip of land.

Governor Oleh Sinehubov of Kharkiv reported on the messaging app Telegram that a 33-year-old man lost his life, while another man was injured during a Russian attack on residential buildings in the village of Kolodiazne overnight. Furthermore, he revealed that four S-400 surface-to-air missiles were launched by Russia, causing slight damage to a residential building in the city of Kharkiv.

Governor Yuriy Malashko of Zaporizhzhia posted on Telegram that three women and four men were injured, and several houses were damaged due to intense Russian shelling from multiple rocket launchers in the village of Stepnohirske on Saturday afternoon. Malashko stated that Russian artillery had fired upon numerous towns and villages in the region 48 times in the past day.

Anatoliy Kurtiev, the secretary of the city council, conveyed on Telegram that Russia shelled the city of Zaporizhzhia, resulting in at least 16 damaged buildings. He also mentioned that one district experienced a power outage on Sunday morning.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-appointed official in parts of Zaporizhzhia controlled by Moscow, claimed on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had destroyed a school in the village of Stulneve. Additionally, air defense forces intercepted a drone over the city of Tokmak.

It is important to note that Reuters could not independently verify the accounts provided by both Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have denied deliberately targeting civilians.

Russia’s defense ministry announced on Saturday that it had destroyed several Ukrainian weapons depots in the Zaporizhzhia region in the past day. Ukraine’s top military command countered, asserting that Russia aimed to impede Ukraine’s progress in the region by heavily shelling the area.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, reiterated his commitment to reclaiming all the land currently occupied by Russia. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy proclaimed, “We will not abandon any of our people, any towns, or villages under Russian occupation. Wherever Russian occupation persists, violence and the mistreatment of people prevail.”