KHARKIV, Ukraine – In a tragic turn of events, a petrol station in Kharkiv, northeast Ukraine, was set ablaze by Russian drone strikes on February 10, 2024. The strikes resulted in a devastating fire that engulfed 15 nearby houses, leading to several casualties, including an entire family. Among the victims were district prosecutor Olha Putiatina, her husband, and their three children, ages 7, 4, and less than 6 months.
The head of the regional police’s investigative department, Serhii Bolvinov, described the scene as one where it was “impossible to identify the body of the baby at the scene” due to the intensity of the fire. This heartbreaking incident has left the entire community in shock and mourning as they grapple with the loss of innocent lives.
In the first days of the Russian invasion, much of the Kharkiv region, situated on the border, was seized by Russia. However, Kharkiv city managed to withstand the initial onslaught. Although a Ukrainian counter-offensive liberated the region in autumn 2022, Russia has continued to carry out deadly attacks with drones, missiles, and artillery.
This attack on Kharkiv is another tragic example of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The loss of innocent lives and the devastation caused by such strikes further underscores the urgent need for international intervention and support to address the escalating situation. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took to social media to highlight the grim reality of the situation and express his deep sorrow at the loss of innocent lives.