Rockets of Russian Smerch MLRS cause "fireworks" in Kharkiv
Pyrotechnics exploded in Kharkiv on the evening of 10 January because of a strike on a warehouse; it was hit by a Smerch, Russian-made multiple-launch rocket system. It took more than two hours to put down the fire.
Source: Oleh Syniehubov, the Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration; Serhii Bolvinov, head of the Investigation Department of the Main Department of National Police in Kharkiv Oblast; Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv Oblast
Quote from Syniehubov: "Yesterday, at about 23:00, Russian occupiers attacked Kharkiv, presumably using Smerch MLRS. There was a strike on a pyrotechnics warehouse in Kyivskyi district. A huge fire broke out, and there were a lot of explosions at night. Luckily, there were no casualties."
Details: The State Emergency Service in Kharkiv Oblast has reported that one of the rockets struck a one-storey storage building at 23:00 on Tuesday, which resulted in a fire on more than 1,000 square kilometres. It was extinguished at 01:41; four equipment items and 25 search and rescuers were involved in it.
The police have stated that tail pieces of that MLRS were discovered at locations of two explosions. The investigators found fragments of these rockets far from the centre of explosions; a stabiliser block of one of them was found near Kyivska metro station.
It is established that a dog was killed by one of the rockets in a private building.
Locals told Suspilne, Ukraine’s public broadcaster, that they could not sleep because of the fireworks exploding.
The CEO of the company that rented the storage for fireworks for 20 years, said they would assess the damage, and when winter is over, they would start maintenance works.
Background:
- On the evening of 10 January, Russian forces launched attacks on Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv city, setting off an explosion of pyrotechnics at a warehouse hit by a shell.
- Earlier that day, Annalena Baerbock, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, visited Kharkiv. She announced 20 million euros of financial aid for Ukraine to pay for the Starlink satellite connection service.
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