Russian forces hit tuberculosis hospital in Kharkiv – photos
A Russian aerial bomb struck the building of Regional Tuberculosis Hospital No. 3 in Kharkiv on Friday 25 July. At the time of the attack, there were 13 patients and 25 staff members inside the facility.
Source: acting chief doctor Nataliia Trokhlebova in a comment to journalists, as reported by Ukrinform; State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Quote: "I was at work at the time of the explosion. All the windows and doors were blown out. There were patients on the second floor – we had 13 of them there in the morning. Two were injured and taken away by ambulance. Four staff members suffered injuries to their faces and hands; others had minor scratches."
Details: The guided aerial bomb hit the roof and destroyed the floor slab between two large inpatient wards.
"There were no patients on the third floor – we’re undergoing reorganisation, so the floor was empty. Otherwise I don't know how many casualties there might have been," Trokhlebova added.
She also said the hospital’s patients were in a moderate to serious condition due to tuberculosis or other related illnesses.
"Moreover, these are people in need of social protection – internally displaced persons, people without permanent housing, or those abandoned by family for various reasons," she noted.
The strike occurred just before the professional holiday for medical workers, the hospital head pointed out.
"We’re a medical facility treating patients who need social protection – and it has now been taken from them. Sunday is our holiday – Medical Worker’s Day. This is the sort of greeting we’ve received from our ‘kind’ neighbours," Trokhlebova said.
She added that the patients would continue their treatment at the Regional Phthisiopulmonology Centre.
Reports that people might be trapped under the rubble have not been confirmed, said Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Oblast Military Administration.
Syniehubov earlier reported that as of 16:30 on Friday, doctors had provided assistance to 17 people, including a 12-year-old girl.
One person – a staff member at the damaged hospital – remains in hospital. The rest received all the necessary medical treatment and currently do not require hospitalisation.
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