Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RUK100

Incident date

April 6, 2022

Location

Балаклія, Balakliia, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.462248, 36.857606 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A suspected Russian attack reportedly killed three civilians in Balakleya, Kharkiv the afternoon of April 6, 2022.

The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Group detailed how Russian troops shelled residential buildings, resulting in destroyed homes, and killing three civilians. NV News reported that a criminal case was opened for violation of laws and customs combined with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Gordon news quoted the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration Oleg Sinegubov as saying, “As a result of yesterday’s artillery shelling in Balakleya killed three people, many houses destroyed.” he also noted that it is believed that Russia launched 48 strikes against the region.

Two sources challenged these reports. Economy Today claimed that Ukrainian forces shelled Izyum, and Russian forces helped to evacuate patients with chronic diseases and others in need of special assistance. Kharkov Nash, a Ukrainian Telegram channel based in Kharkiv with local correspondents in the city, used the social media platform to accuse Ukrainian forces of killing their own civilians due to “firing indiscriminately” and that Russian soldiers located in Balakleya are continuously shelled by Ukrainian forces, and the Russian troops “can do almost nothing” to repel the Ukrainians.

This incident has reference to ACLED’s code UKR55200.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Balakliia ( Балаклія), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.462248, 36.857606. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Ukrainian Military, Ukrainian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Olena Kulik
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Oleh Sinegubov
  • Damage to a building caused by alleged Russian shelling of Balakliia on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News UA via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of Balakliia on April 6, 2022. (Image posted by Larsya Bodareva Mediyniy Zmiiv via Facebook)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Larsya Bodareva Mediyniy Zmiiv

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Ukrainian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Ukrainian Military
  • Ukrainian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Ukrainian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Ukrainian Military
  • Ukrainian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Ukrainian Military, Ukrainian Military

Sources (16) [ collapse]