Tiny hands holding on tight: children rescued after Russian strike on Kharkiv kindergarten – photos, video
Rescue workers and police officers carried children in their arms after a Russian strike on a kindergarten in the city of Kharkiv on the morning of 22 October, evacuating around 50 little ones in total.
Source: Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko on Facebook; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram
Quote from Klymenko: "Kharkiv. Rescue workers and police officers carry children after a Russian strike on a kindergarten. Tiny hands holding onto the shoulders of those who save and protect... About 50 children have been evacuated."
Details: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) released photos showing rescue workers and law enforcement officers holding frightened children in their arms.
"There are no principles or rules in Russia's actions – only destruction and death. The police, together with the Security Service of Ukraine, are documenting this war crime against civilians and children," the minister added.
At around 13:00, firefighters reported that the fire at the kindergarten had been contained.
"At the time of the attack, 48 children were in the shelter; all of them were evacuated to a safe location. Sadly, one person was killed and six injured," the State Emergency Service said.
The attack also caused fires to break out in an apartment building and a disused warehouse. All city services are working at the scene.
Later, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov provided details of the morning Russian attack. He said three Shahed drones directly hit a building that housed a private kindergarten. The force of the strikes caused the first floor to completely collapse.
"Fortunately, the teachers managed to take the children down in time to a very basic shelter in the same building, and as soon as the rescue workers reached the basement, all 48 children were evacuated. But the horror that we all experienced, especially the parents, in those few minutes when no one knew whether everyone was alive, will remain in our memory forever," said Terekhov.
He added that the person who was killed was a municipal worker, a landscaper from the utility company, who had been cleaning the street at the time. A woman sitting in a parked car and several other municipal workers sustained injuries.
The attack damaged six buildings on two streets, mostly shops, offices and business premises.
"Civilian cars were burned out, windows in municipal vehicles were shattered and an overhead contact line was severed. Traffic on Kotsarska Street is temporarily restricted," Terekhov said.
Background: Russian forces attacked Kharkiv early on 22 October, with at least three explosions reported. A private kindergarten has been hit: one person has been killed and six others injured, including children.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!