Russian strike hits playground, residential building in Kharkiv, teen girl among six dead in attack

At least six people, including a teen girl, were killed after a Russian-guided bomb hit a playground and a residential building in Ukraine’s Kharkiv city on Friday.

The 12-storey residential building caught fire after the strike.

Several social media posts have now emerged where firefighters could be seen trying to bring the flames under control.

President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X: “Rescue operations continue in Kharkiv at the sites struck by Russian bombs. Tragically, there are fatalities, including a child—a girl named Sofia, who would have turned 15 this fall. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. Many others are injured. “

He said: “Aid is being provided to all those affected, and rescuers are doing everything they can to save as many lives as possible. I am grateful to everyone involved in the rescue efforts and to all those who are supporting Kharkiv and its residents.”

He described the cowardly strikes as ‘horrific’.

“These horrific, cowardly Russian strikes targeted ordinary homes and a city park. Russia will be held accountable for all its evil deeds. But the world must remember that the most effective tactic is to prevent evil from acting in the first place,” the President said.

He said: “We need decisions—decisions that our partners can make, decisions from those countries that have the power to ensure we have the capability to destroy Russian military aircraft at their bases, where eliminating these terrorists and their aircraft will be most effective.”

Kharkiv is located close to the Russian border.

The Ukrainian city, which is the second largest in the country, has been attacked frequently since Russia began its full-scale invasion in 2022.

“Occupiers killed a child right on the playground,” Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app on Friday as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Thirty months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, human suffering continues to worsen amid alarming reports of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear facilities, a senior UN political affairs official told the Security Council on Wednesday.

Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said that last month was particularly deadly for Ukrainian civilians, with at least 219 killed and more than 1,000 injured.

Since 24 February 2022 – the date of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has documented 11,662 civilian killings and 24,207 injuries. The actual figure could be higher.

“Tragically, these figures only grow, as missiles, shells and drones continue to hit cities, towns and villages across Ukraine daily,” Jenča said.

Concerns over nuclear safety

The senior UN official further expressed alarm regarding reported incidents around nuclear facilities in Ukraine and Russia, in particular the deterioration of the nuclear safety situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

On 17 August, a drone strike hit the road around the power plant’s site perimeter. This incident followed a significant fire at one of the cooling towers on 11 August, which resulted in considerable damage.

Jenča added that concerns are also rising over nuclear safety and security in Russia’s Kursk region.

On 22 August, Russia reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that remains of a drone were found within the territory of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant.

“We continue to call for maximum restraint and vigilance to avoid a nuclear incident, the consequences of which could be catastrophic to the region and the world,” he urged.