Reuters:
KHARKIV, Ukraine, May 25 – Russian strikes on a crowded DIY hardware store in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday killed at least two people, wounded many more, and triggered a huge blaze that fire crews were battling to contain, regional officials said.
Oleh Syniehubov, Kharkiv regional governor, said via the Telegram messaging app that two guided bombs had hit the DIY hypermarket in a residential area of the city. He said 24 people were injured along with the two confirmed deaths.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said many people were unaccounted for but gave no immediate figures. Officials said up to 200 people could have been in the hypermarket at the time of the strikes.
“The attack targeted the shopping centre, where there were many people – this is clearly terrorism,” Terekhov said.
Reuters video footage showed huge clouds of dark smoke rising into the sky from the site with firefighters’ vehicles and rescuers heading to the scene.
Rescuers, medics and journalists rushed away from the building and lay flat on their stomachs, fearing the possibility of a second strike – a common feature of Russia’s recent attacks.
Ukraine’s second-largest city lying 30 km (18 miles) from the Russian border, Kharkiv has been the target of many weeks of Russian attacks. Russian troops also staged an incursion into northern areas of Kharkiv Region earlier this month.
