Russian army struck Kharkiv with Iskander missile with cluster munition warhead
Kharkiv was attacked with an Iskander missile with a cluster munition warhead (photo: Getty Images)
Russian forces targeted an industrial facility in Kharkiv twice, using an Iskander missile equipped with a cluster warhead during the second strike, according to Suspilne and Kharkiv regional police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko.
According to Tymoshko, the cluster warhead Iskander missile used in the Kharkiv attack was manufactured in the second quarter of 2024.
"Incomplete and marked parts indicate the quarter and year of production. Such a component was found during the site inspection. Essentially, it's straight from the production line to the front," Tymoshko wrote.
In an interview with Suspilne, he specified that at 5:00 a.m., Russian forces struck a civilian target, followed by two attacks on an industrial facility in Kharkiv. An hour later, the same facility was hit with a cluster munition.
Tymoshko suggested that the second use of cluster munitions aimed to target rescuers and police present at the site.
"It’s a miracle that both rescuers and police left the site just 10 minutes before the second strike. However, the cluster munition dispersed over a large area, injuring people who were merely passing by the private enterprise on the street or were in the nearby residential sector," the regional police chief noted.
The use of cluster munitions was confirmed by Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.
"There was a repeat strike in Kharkiv, again using an Iskander missile, this time with a cluster warhead. The enemy is deliberately targeting the State Emergency Service, National Police, and those involved in the aftermath response," he reported.
Photo: Vitalii Hnidyi/Suspilne
Large-scale shelling of Kharkiv and the region
On Wednesday, July 24, Russian forces intensified their rocket attacks on Kharkiv and the surrounding region.
Initially, the Russian army targeted the city and area with S-300 surface-to-air missile systems during the night.
In the daytime, Russian forces struck central Kharkiv with a cluster munition.
Among the targets were the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action office and the home of prominent businessman Yuriy Sapronov.
Around midnight, explosions were heard again in Kharkiv due to another Russian attack.
