On February 9th, around 22:46, the Russian army carried out four strikes on the Nemyshlyansky district of Kharkiv using "Shahed" kamikaze drones. 15 residential private houses were completely burnt down. 7 people died, including children and a newborn.
On the evening of February 9, 2024, a series of explosions rocked the Nemyshliansky district in Kharkiv. The first occurred around 22:44, the second at 22:46, the third at 22:48, and the fourth at 22:49.
Mayor Igor Terekhov confirmed that the strikes were carried out by kamikaze drones targeting civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv. The hits were recorded in the Nemyshliansky district. The number of casualties from the nighttime attack reached 57 people.
"It's a tough night for Kharkiv — seven dead, including three children: an infant, a 4-year-old, and a 7-year-old," the mayor later announced. "15 private houses were completely burnt down. Almost half of [Kotelna Street] was burned."
The fire occurred due to a fuel leak after the Shahed hit an oil depot.
"According to the investigation, after three UAV strikes on the oil depot, there was a fuel leak, turning the street into hell. The fuel mixed with snow and ignited, spreading to the houses. Fifteen residential houses were completely destroyed," reported the Kharkiv region police.
The fire area covered 3700 square meters. Fifty residents, including two children, were evacuated.
The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office has identified several victims.
"Prosecutor Olga Sergiivna Putiatina of the Vovchansk Department of the Chuhuiv District Prosecutor's Office, her husband, and three of their sons have perished. The eldest, Alexey, was 7 years old, the middle child, Mikhail, was almost 4. The youngest, Pavel, was only 10 months old. The family became hostages to the fire inside their own house," wrote the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.
Olga Sergiivna was 35 years old. She had been working in the prosecutor's office of the Kharkiv region since June 2012 and was on maternity leave at the time."
According to the police, a paralyzed man and his wife perished in another house. Kharkiv investigators and forensic experts inspected the crime scene and collected DNA samples. It was determined that the deceased were the Manoylo couple, Svitlana and Anatoliy, aged 65 and 66, respectively.
A 45-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman, who inhaled carbon monoxide, were brought to the hospital with burns, as reported by the police of the Kharkiv region.
Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor Oleksandr Filchakov noted that one person suffered burns covering 40% of their body, and they are currently hospitalized.
A pre-trial investigation has been initiated into the violation of laws and customs of war combined with intentional homicide (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
