Massive attack on Ukraine: firefighters battling blazes at four sites in Kyiv and Kharkiv
This was reported on live television by Oleksandr Khorunzhiy, deputy head of the department and head of the media relations division within the Communications Department of the State Emergency Service, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.
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Photo: Yevhen Tafiichuk, Facebook
"Kyiv, Kharkiv, the Kyiv region, and the Dnipropetrovsk region were hit the hardest. There were also strikes in the Mykolaiv and Sumy regions. We are currently working to extinguish fires at three locations in Kyiv and one location in Kharkiv, where the fire has been contained. All fires in Kyiv have also been effectively contained, but efforts to extinguish them are ongoing," Horunzhiy noted.
The ensign reported that, according to preliminary data, three people had been rescued from the rubble in Kyiv.
Responding to a question about the cleanup efforts following the Russian strike on large-scale facilities such as the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the “Nova Poshta” terminal in Kyiv, the press officer stated that all fires have now been extinguished—both at the “Mystetskyi Arsenal” building and on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra at the Assumption Cathedral.
"At the Assumption Cathedral… the fire was particularly challenging because, first of all, the building is very tall, so we had to deploy aerial firefighting and rescue equipment, and secondly—[we had to]—cut open the roof to douse the fire that was burning beneath it in the wooden structures. The same situation, accordingly, [occurred] at the Mystetskyi Arsenal," said a representative of the State Emergency Service.
He reported that the rescue workers were, in fact, operating under repeated live fire—but they carried out their duties with precision, courage, and efficiency.
Photo: Yevhen Tafiichuk, Facebook
Regarding the situation in the regions, where there have been casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, Horunzhiy reported that current data indicates four children are among the total number of injured.
“The figure is not final—people may seek medical attention as their condition worsens, and the number of casualties may rise. As for the specific targets, the vast majority are residential buildings, critical infrastructure facilities, educational institutions, medical facilities, and schools,” the press officer stated.
Responding to a question about the deaths and injuries among rescue workers in Kharkiv, he clarified that, unfortunately, during the second Russian attack (according to preliminary data, an “Iskander” missile strike), four rescue workers and one civil defense employee of the Regional State Administration who was with them were killed.
A representative of the State Emergency Service reported that one of the rescuers injured in this attack is in extremely critical condition.
As reported, the Air Defense Forces intercepted 50 missiles and nearly 600 drones used by the Russians to attack Ukraine starting on the evening of June 14. Kyiv was the main target of the strike.
In particular, as a result of the Russian airstrike on the capital, a fire broke out on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on the roof of the Assumption Cathedral.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that two Russian drones deliberately targeted the part of Kyiv where the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the “Mystetskyi Arsenal” are located.
In total, the death toll in Kyiv from the massive Russian attack on June 15 has risen to five. Another 35 people were injured.
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