Thibaud Hue, edited by Mélanie Faure
modified to
10:38 a.m., March 02, 2022
Russia further intensified its offensive in Ukraine on Tuesday, targeting cities including Kiev where the bombings caused many civilian casualties. Kharkiv, the country’s second city, has also suffered from attacks by Kremlin planes. On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian airborne troops even landed, giving rise to fighting on the spot.
European sanctions are not enough. Putin continues to increase the force of his attacks and to penetrate into Ukraine. On Tuesday, several towns were pounded by bombs. Kiev, but also Kharkiv, located 40 kilometers from the Russian border. The second largest city in the country.
From eight o’clock in the morning, hell fell on its one and a half million inhabitants. The planes first targeted the central square and the headquarters of the regional administration, which was hard hit according to Governor Oleg Sinegoubov, in a video on Telegram showing the explosion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced a “war crime”.
Missile attack on the Kharkiv regional administration, Sumska 64. Grad shelling at residential areas. Putin now in total war with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/eXyfA4E4YI
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) March 1, 2022
“The bomb was twenty meters from me”
The victims are numerous, at least ten deaths and about twenty wounded were counted. Svitlana, a resident of Kharkiv, narrowly survived the blast. “The bomb was twenty meters from me. We all fell to the ground. It exploded and an Indian student died from shrapnel. His blood was on me. It was very scary.”
The shelling lasted several hours and continued on residential areas of Kharkiv. At the end of the attack during which at least eighteen people died, Maria opened her window. Facing her, ruins and desolation.
At least eighteen dead
She confides, still in shock: “Our city is destroyed! People are dead, civilians! Everything has exploded, buildings, infrastructure… In many places there is no more electricity, there is no “There’s no more water. I can’t sleep at night because of the bombs and rockets. Me and my family are helpless. It’s hard but we try not to panic.”
After being ravaged by bombs, calm returned to Kharkiv in the afternoon. But all dread the night and new air attacks, more and more destructive.