Ukrainian Family of Five Killed in Russian Drone Attack in Kharkiv, Reports Reuters

KYIV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian prosecutor, her husband, and their three young children were among seven individuals killed in a Russian drone strike on the northeastern city of Kharkiv. The attack hit an oil depot, igniting fires that destroyed half a street, according to officials on Saturday.

The regional prosecutor’s office identified the local prosecutor who perished alongside her children—Oleksiy, 7, Mykhailo, 3, and 10-month-old Pavlo—as Olha Putyatina. Officials stated, “The family was held hostage by a fire inside their own home.”

Putyatina, 35, was on maternity leave and had been employed at the Kharkiv regional office since June 2012, as shared via a message on its official Telegram channel. An elderly couple residing on the same street also lost their lives in the attack, which Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported injured 57 individuals and destroyed 15 homes.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his evening address, asserted that those responsible for the attack, whom he referred to as “Russian terrorists,” would be held accountable. “It should be noted that in history, the perpetrators of such murders did not go unpunished,” he emphasized.

Terekhov announced a day of mourning for Sunday. All victims were residents of Kotelnia Street, as noted by Serhii Bolvinov, head of the investigative department of the National Police in the region.

The Ukrainian air force reported shooting down 23 out of 31 Russian drones that targeted Kharkiv and Odesa regions. Oleh Kiper, governor of the Odesa region, indicated that a drone assault in his area resulted in injuries to four individuals and damage to industrial facilities, vehicles, and some port infrastructure.

In Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Synehubov disclosed that several drones struck the oil depot, leading to fuel leaks. Emergency services worked through the night to control the fires and clear debris. Zelenskiy mentioned that four individuals had been rescued, with dozens evacuated from the area.

Synehubov also reported a Russian drone attack on a restaurant in Velykyi Berluk, located 100 km from Kharkiv, but noted there were no casualties there.

Russia has not provided an immediate comment regarding the incidents. The Kremlin claims its military actions do not intentionally target civilian areas.

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Kharkiv has faced regular assaults and has been a frequent target of Russian strikes in recent weeks.