Large-scale fire, evacuation, and fatalities: Update on gas station attack in Kharkiv

During the preparation of the material, Telegram channels of the Ukrainian Air Force, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, Chief of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleh Syniehubov, and Suspilne, along with data from the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service (SES) of the Kharkiv region and air raid alert maps were utilized.

Massive attack on Ukraine

During the night of February 10, terrorists launched 31 Shahed-136/131 strike drones against Ukraine. The enemy launched drones from:

• Balaklava, Crimea;
• Cape Chauda, Crimea;
• Kursk region, Russia.

The main targets of the attack were the Odesa and Kharkiv regions.

To repel the attack, the following forces were deployed:

• anti-aircraft missile units;
• mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine;
• electronic warfare assets.

During the combat operations, defenders managed to destroy 23 enemy drones within the Odesa and Kharkiv regions.

Attack on Kharkiv

In the Kharkiv region, an air raid alarm was declared from 21:24 to 23:17. Around 22:51, as reported by an RBC-Ukraine correspondent, two explosions were heard in the administrative center.

Additionally, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned of the movement of Shahed drones toward Kharkiv.

Within minutes, Mayor Igor Terekhov announced terrorist strikes on the civilian infrastructure of the administrative center.

Later, Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, reported hits in the Nemyshlianskyi district of the city.

Attack on gas station

After the first night, Terekhov revealed the initial details of the Russian strike on the gas station. According to him, a massive fire broke out due to fuel spillage, which had engulfed 14 private residential buildings at that time.

"At the site of the elimination of the consequences of enemy strikes, 200 rescuers and 38 units of equipment from the SES were involved. From the residential buildings of the private sector, 4 people were saved, including 2 children and 50 people were evacuated. Firefighters prevented the spread of flames to residential and other buildings," the press service of the Main Directorate of the SES in the Kharkiv region reports.

He added that SES personnel continue to battle the fire and search for possible casualties. All relevant municipal services were working at the scene.

The prosecutor of the Kharkiv region, Oleksandr Filchakov, revealed that as a result of the Russian attack on Kharkiv, one civilian sustained 40% body burns. The victim has been hospitalized.

First casualty of Russian strikes

After the second night, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reported one fatality as a result of the terrorists' strike on the administrative center.

Filchakov noted that search and rescue operations are ongoing but warned that the number of casualties may increase.

Later, video footage of the aftermath of the Russian strike on Kharkiv emerged.

Number of fatalities has risen to seven, including children

As of 08:13, according to Syniehubov, there are reports of the deaths of 7 individuals, including three children:

• 7 years old;
• 4 years old;
• an infant around 6 months old.

"In one of the private houses, the bodies of 5 people were found, including 3 children. At another site, there are two more fatalities," he said.

He also added that as a result of the massive fire, 15 residential buildings were completely burned down. The cleanup operations are ongoing, and the fires have been contained.

As Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko reported, firefighters managed to save 25 buildings from the spread of fire.

Unable to identify infant's body at scene

As Chief of the Investigative Department of the National Police department in the Kharkiv region Serhii Bolvinov stated, it is impossible to identify the infant's body at the scene.

"The burning temperature was such high that the bones and the infant's body turned almost into ashes. A forensic expert - a medic - is present at the scene. We are collecting everything and transporting it to the morgue for examination. We suspect that the mother held the children, embracing and pressing them to her chest," Bolvinov explained.

Number of injured rises to 57

According to Terekhov, 57 people have been affected as a result of Russian aggression.

"We are collecting warm clothes. We will be resettling people. There is an option to accommodate them in dormitories. There they can stay as long as needed. We have reached agreements with international funds on the installation of mobile houses so that people can live in them - they have everything necessary for life," Terekhov said.