Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RUK174

Incident date

May 4, 2022

Location

Старий Салтів, Staryi Saltiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.099884, 36.775080 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, including a child, were killed and two injured, a woman and her six month old daughter, in an alleged Russian military personnel attack near Staryi Saltiv on a 15 vehicle convoy which had been evacuating the then Russian occupied city of Vovchansk on May 4, 2022.

Investigators arrived at the scene two days after the attack and launched a pre-trial investigation into the violation of the laws and customs of war combined with intentional murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the criminal code of Ukraine). When conducted by the Chuguyiv District Police, they found six of the cars in the convoy had been damaged and four unrecognisable burnt corpses.

The Victims Memorial provided the details of a young girl aged 13 who was killed instantly in the attack. She was evacuating with her mother and six-month old sister who were both severely injured in the attack and taken to Vokhansk hospital. The family had travelled to Vovchansk with the belief that it would be safer in the case of a Russian invasion however soon had to evacuate due to clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Details of the three further civilians killed in this attack are unknown at the time of writing.

Images posted on the telegram channels of prokuratura_kharkiv and pgo_gov_ua detail the damage caused to four of the vehicles. One five door car was burnt and destroyed beyond recognition with additional damage to the front; another was also burnt but with less severity; a black BMW had visible gunshot entry damage to the front windscreen and vehicle left, both visible tires were flat; another car had heavy damage to the bottom front and gunshots to the driver’s side of the front windscreen. 300 meters from the cars a damaged Russian tank was also found abandoned, through 150 meters from this the charred bodies of two men in Russian military uniforms were also found.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR57183.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention vehicles struck in the vicinity of the town of Staryi Saltiv (Старий Салтів). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 50.099884, 36.775080.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Prokuratura_kharkiv

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Prokuratura_kharkiv

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Prokuratura_kharkiv

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Prokuratura_kharkiv

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Humanitarian evacuation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of the victims of an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Prokuratura_kharkiv via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Prokuratura_kharkiv via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Prokuratura_kharkiv via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Prokuratura_kharkiv via Telegram)
  • Result of an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Prokuratura_kharkiv via Telegram)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Sergey Bolvinov
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Sergey Bolvinov via Facebook)
  • Russian tank found near an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Sergey Bolvinov via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Sergey Bolvinov via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Sergey Bolvinov via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Sergey Bolvinov via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Russian attack on an evacuation convoy in Staryi Saltiv on May 4, 2022. (Image posted by Sergey Bolvinov via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Humanitarian evacuation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (15) [ collapse]