As the unprovoked Russian attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine stretched into its sixth day, a round of fresh shelling began to rock and devastate the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. This is notable as Kharkiv has been well known as a massive center for pro-Russian demonstrations in the ongoing struggle for the Donbass, however, in the days since the sudden invasion has proven to be one of the most recalcitrant holdouts for Ukrainian military forces. Reports have streamed into mainstream and alternate media outlets alike of outlawed cluster munitions being used against civilian targets along with missile strikes hitting the center of Freedom square, miles from any possible military target.
This is what it’s like in #Kharkiv right now — incessant (likely MRL) shelling. Immensely destructive in waves like this. #Ukraine
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) March 1, 2022
At least ten civilians are confirmed dead according to the Ukrainian interior ministry due to the shelling in Kharkiv with another twenty wounded. At least one Indian national was among those killed.
“With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning,” Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted.
Freedom Square in Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, has been hit by a Russian missile strike
"This is the price of freedom," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sayshttps://t.co/TJ4670eS5C pic.twitter.com/zLfats66fd
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 1, 2022
Via Telegram, the Ukrainian Rada or parliament, accused Russian forces of launching another strike on Kharkiv, “destroying a building of a hospital.”
Russia Under Investigation For War Crimes After Indiscriminate Shelling
The shocking use of these illegal weapons against definitively civilian targets comes alongside accusations that the Russian military has employed a thermobaric explosive or “vacuum bomb” against targets near Kyiv in direct violation of the Geneva Convention. Startlingly, on Feb. 28th the International Criminal Court announced that it will open an investigation into whether or not the Russian Federation has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during their so-called “Special military operation.”
NBC News reported, “Russia hit major cities across Ukraine with increasingly heavy shelling as the conflict escalated on its sixth day. Meanwhile, a vast convoy of Russian forces threatened the capital, Kyiv. Ukraine’s ministry of internal affairs said Russian forces hit a TV tower in the city on Tuesday, killing five people.”
In what are becoming frequent video appearances from the Capital under siege a beleaguered President Volodimir Zelenskyy rallied global audiences against what he referred to as “outright, undisguised terror” at the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin forces.
“No one will forgive. Nobody will forget,” Zelenskyy said.
https://twitter.com/Ukrainiannews_/status/1498620121941692416
Due to Ukraine’s status as a war zone at this time, none of these reports can be independently confirmed as of this writing and are subject to clarification as more information becomes available.
