By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Eighteen people, including a 12 year old girl, were killed in a Russian strike on the Epicenter hypermarket in Kharkiv, marking the deadliest attack Ukraine has faced in several weeks. Five individuals remain missing, and 48 were injured during the strike, which occurred while nearly 200 people were inside the building, according to Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region military administration.
The attack, part of a series of recent assaults on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city near the Russian border, caused significant devastation. Security camera footage captured the moment of impact, showing the building shaking, followed by thick smoke and flames. Witnesses and police reported at least two explosions.
Oleksandr Lutsenko, the shopping center's director, described the chaotic evacuation, with dust filled corridors and collapsing ceilings. Outside, he observed the hypermarket ablaze, with some people jumping from windows to escape.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described the aftermath as "hellish," commending the efforts of those who extinguished the fires. Photographs from the scene show extensive damage, with the store in ruins and stock burned.
Among the victims were 12 year old Maria Myronenko and her mother, Iryna, who was a student at the Ukrainian Catholic University. Maria’s father was injured and hospitalized, while her elder sister, Nadiya, learned of the tragedy only after finding her father in the hospital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike as a “brutal attack,” highlighting Russia's intent to normalize destruction and division through war. During an official visit to Spain, Zelensky called for more air defense support from Ukraine’s allies. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a $1.08 billion weapons deal, including Patriot missiles and Leopard tanks, to bolster Ukraine's defenses.
The United States also pledged $275 million in military assistance to help Ukraine counter Russia's offensive near Kharkiv, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasizing the urgency of the support.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry sought to manage expectations regarding comments by army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the potential arrival of French military trainers. Syrskyi’s statement suggested imminent French involvement, but subsequent comments clarified that discussions and paperwork are ongoing without a fixed timeline. The French Defense Ministry echoed this, noting continued efforts to understand Ukraine’s needs following discussions at a February conference in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron had proposed sending military trainers as a form of support from Western allies.