Russian Federation Attacks on Kharkiv Kill Two Families

"Last night’s casualties are the latest amidst a series of attacks on Kharkiv city,” said Danielle Bell, who heads the UN monitoring mission.  “Since December 29 we have verified 17 civilians killed and 168 injured in Kharkiv city alone, though actual numbers will be higher once the recent casualties are fully verified,” she noted.

Initial reports said seven civilians were killed Friday night including two men, two women and three young boys, aged seven months, four and seven years, when Russian Federation drones struck a fuel station in a residential area of Kharkiv, starting a fire that also injured at least three others and reportedly burned 15 residential homes to the ground.

The HRMMU offers its condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this attack and wishes a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

Since December 29, 2023, a total of 79 missiles and drones have directly struck residential areas of Kharkiv city on 15 separate days.  In addition to civilian casualties, the blast waves and fires from these missile and drone strikes have destroyed and damaged numerous homes and businesses throughout the city.

Between 24 February 2022 and 31 January 2024, HRMMU verified 10,378 civilians killed and 19,632 injured across Ukraine. These figures include 579 children killed and 1,284 children injured. HRMMU issued its most recent update on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on 7 February 2024.