On April 14th 2022, at least seven and up to ten civilians were killed and between 13 to 30 were injured, including at least one child, when Russian forces shells and gunfire hit evacuation buses in the village of Borova, Izyum district of Kharkiv. Kharkiv Today reported that evacuation from the region began on April 4th after the area became under temporary Russian occupation. Other local sources noted that attacks by Russian forces on evacuation buses were common.

Interfax news reported that four people wounded by the shelling of evacuation buses were in serious condition. Interfax news also reported that on Borovka village council’s Facebook page it stated that “according to our information, there are 7 wounded in Brovaya hospital, 4 of them in serious condition, there is one wounded child. The hospital is in urgent need of medication, including anaesthetics, as well as food and clothing for the injured.” It also reported that due to the destroyed roads and bridges in the area, it is impossible to bring medicine and other vital aid, “as well as the fact that the Russian occupiers prohibit movement between villages in the community.”

Dialog.ua news reported that “the tragedy happened on Thursday April 14th near the village of Borova, near the Russian occupied town of Izyum. The Russian Armed Forces opened fire on buses carrying civilians who were trying to leave the site of the fighting. Judging by the footage made public, the strike was carried out by Russian artillery. Two vans were seriously damaged. Seven people were killed in the attack and 27 others were injured with varying degrees of severity.”

Suspilne Kharkiv reported on Telegram the highest number of dead and injured, stated that “about 10 people were killed as a result of the shelling of civilian buses by the Russian military near the village of Borova in Kharkiv region on April 14, and up to 30 civilians were wounded, Dmytro Chubenko, a spokesman for the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office told Suspilne. The exact number of victims, the circumstances and the route of the buses are being established by law enforcement officers – Borova is under temporary occupation.”

Zdorova Luganschina reported on Faceook that “recently a tragedy took place that claimed lives and cut off the only way we could deliver vital medicines to you. The carrier’s minibuses were shelled near the village of Borova… the buses were carrying parcels with medicines, so some of the medicines you ordered unfortunately did not arrive.”

Rayon.in.ua reported that “under the procedural control of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, a pre-trial investigation was launched into the violation of the laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder… according to the investigation, on April 14 2022, Russian serviceman fired at evacuation buses with civilians in the village of Borova, Izyum distict.”  The pre-trial investigation was being conducted by the SBU Office in Kharkiv region.

Kharkiv Today also reported that since April 4th when evacuations began from Boroyava, “half of the 15,000 residents of Borovaya have left.”

This incident has reference to ACLED code UKR89137.

The local time of the incident is unknown.