A Russian jet-powered drone struck Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district late on Tuesday, 27 October, injuring five people, including a four-year-old boy, and setting residential and industrial buildings ablaze, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.
The fires spread across some 2,500 square metres, engulfing an apartment block, private homes, outbuildings and three industrial premises. Nearby tower blocks, garages and cars were also damaged.
Three of the five injured were taken to hospital. Footage showed firefighters tackling the flames and rescue workers helping residents to safety as smoke rose over the neighbourhood.
Despite the risk of further Russian strikes, emergency crews brought the blaze under control, and psychologists assisted those affected.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The strike wounded five civilians, including a four-year-old child, in a residential and industrial neighbourhood, underscoring the continuing human toll of the war on Kharkiv's population.
- Firefighters had to operate under the threat of further Russian attacks while containing a blaze that damaged homes, outbuildings, industrial premises and nearby cars and garages.
- With the fire only now under control, the full extent of the damage and the condition of the injured may become clearer in the coming days.
Background
Kharkiv is Ukraine's second-largest city and sits close to the Russian border, making it a frequent target during the full-scale invasion that began in 2022. The attack on the night of 27 October followed that pattern, hitting a district where residential buildings and industrial sites stand close together.
What to Watch
- Further attacks on Kharkiv: the State Emergency Service said crews were working under the threat of additional Russian strikes, making any new strike in the coming hours the immediate indicator.
- The condition of the injured: three of the five hurt, including the four-year-old boy, were taken to hospital, and updates on their treatment will signal how serious the casualties are.
- Damage assessment: further statements from Ukraine's State Emergency Service may detail the extent of harm to the apartment block and industrial premises.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA Russian drone strike on Kharkiv injured five people.Euronews: “Five people, including a 4-year-old child, were injured in an overnight Russian drone strike on Kharkiv.”
- SupportedThe strike set buildings ablaze.Euronews: “A Russian jet-powered drone struck Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district late on Tuesday, 27 October, injuring five people, including a four-year-old boy, and setting residential and industrial buildings ablaze.”
- Partly supportedUkraine's State Emergency Service said fires spread across 2,500 square metres and crews then contained the blaze.Euronews: “The fires spread across some 2,500 square metres, engulfing an apartment block, private homes, outbuildings and three industrial premises. Nearby tower blocks, garages and cars were also damaged, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.”
- SupportedA jet-powered drone struck Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district late on Tuesday, 27 October.Euronews: “A Russian jet-powered drone struck Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district late on Tuesday, 27 October, injuring five people, including a four-year-old boy, and setting residential and industrial buildings ablaze.”
- SupportedFive people were injured, including a four-year-old boy.Euronews: “A Russian jet-powered drone struck Kharkiv's Osnovianskyi district late on Tuesday, 27 October, injuring five people, including a four-year-old boy, and setting residential and industrial buildings ablaze.”
- Partly supportedThe State Emergency Service said the drone strike injured five people and set residential and industrial buildings ablaze.Euronews: “Nearby tower blocks, garages and cars were also damaged, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.”
- SupportedFires spread across some 2,500 square metres, engulfing an apartment block, private homes, outbuildings and three industrial premises.Euronews: “The fires spread across some 2,500 square metres, engulfing an apartment block, private homes, outbuildings and three industrial premises.”
- SupportedNearby tower blocks, garages and cars were damaged.Euronews: “Nearby tower blocks, garages and cars were also damaged, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.”
- SupportedThree of the five injured people were taken to hospital.Euronews: “Three of the five injured were taken to hospital.”
- SupportedFootage showed firefighters tackling the flames and rescue workers helping residents to safety as smoke rose over the neighbourhood.Euronews: “Footage shows firefighters tackling the flames and rescue workers helping residents to safety as smoke rises over the neighbourhood.”
- SupportedEmergency crews brought the blaze under control despite the risk of further Russian strikes.Euronews: “Despite the risk of further Russian strikes, emergency crews brought the blaze under control, while psychologists assisted those affected.”
- SupportedPsychologists assisted those affected.Euronews: “Despite the risk of further Russian strikes, emergency crews brought the blaze under control, while psychologists assisted those affected.”