Ukraine: Terrifying Explosion Shows Russians Targeting Government Building

Russia has launched missile attacks targeting central Kharkiv, including the city's regional government building, officials have said.

Region Head Oleg Synegubov confirmed that a number of missiles had hit areas in the centre of Ukraine's second-largest city, including residential buildings and the regional administration building, which is located in Freedom Square in the heart of the city.

Footage shared to social media shows the moment one missile apparently aimed at the government building makes impact, with subsequent videos showing rubble, burnt out cars and other damage in the usually bustling central square as emergency services worked to rescue survivors.

It was not immediately clear whether the missile made impact with the building or fell outside.

The Telegraph reports that at least six people were injured in the missile attack, including one child, with fatalities yet to be confirmed. The Governor of Kharkiv and other officials are said to have been unharmed.

Speaking from the scene of the attack, Synegubov condemned the use of missile and rocket fire on civilian areas, saying, 'Such attacks are genocide of the Ukrainian people, a war crime against the civilian population!'

Experts have said that the missile seen in the footage appears to be an Iskander short-range ballistic missile; a weapon that has been used on a number of other key targets, including airfields and arms depots, since Russia launched its invasion last week.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported yesterday that in the first four days of the invasion at least 180 short-range missiles have been launched by Russia, the majority of which were fired from neighbouring Belarus, per the Kyiv Independent.

Kharkiv Regional State Administration Building (Alamy)

In a video address shared this morning following the attack in Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the missile strike an 'open and undisguised' act of terror, and branded Russia a 'terrorist state'.

'No one will forgive. Nobody will forget,' he said.

Kharkiv has come under increasingly heavy bombardment from Russian forces in recent days after an initial attempt to capture the city was repelled.

Intelligence sources have warned that as Russia adopts a change in tactics, civilian areas are likely to be increasingly targeted, with the UK Ministry of Defence stating in its latest update that 'Russian forces have greatly increased their use of artillery north of Kyiv and in vicinities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv'.

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