Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

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Incident Code

RUK062

Incident date

March 16, 2022

Location

проспект Тракторобудівників, 55 б, 55B Traktorobudivnykiv Avenue, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.989101, 36.340268 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a woman, was killed by alleged Russian shelling of Saltivka, Kharkiv on March 16 2022.

Multiple sources posted a video of an explosion in Saltivka. A Bellingcat comment mentions that the explosion occurred next to an ice hockey rink, and next to a burning vehicle appears to be a fatality. Truexa News mentions that a woman died, and were looking to identify who it was by the car number.

Truexa News attributed the explosion to shelling carried out by Russian forces.

No other information was available on this incident.

This assessment has reference to Bellingcat code CIV0398.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • New round of Russian strikes on Saltivka, Kharkiv

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Before the war, we walked through this park with my husband, holding hands. It's such happiness - to hold his right hand with your left hand and just walk next to him... #Kharkiv #Ukraine️ Saltovka...

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike in the vicinity of an ice rink in the Saltivka (Салтівка) neighbourhood of the city of Kharkiv (Харків). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 49.989101, 36.340268.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Truexanewsua

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Truexanewsua

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK063

Incident date

March 17, 2022

Location

Козача Лопань, Kozacha Lopan, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.336013, 36.193996 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

50.334438, 36.190772 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and six civilians, including an elderly woman, were killed and at least two others, including a child, were wounded by alleged Russian or Ukrainian shelling of Kozacha Lopan in Kharkiv on March 17, 2022.

The head of the Dergachev community Vyacheslav Zadorenko announced on Facebook that Russian forces used cluster bombs and “as a result, at least six people were killed, data on the number of injured are being investigated. The invaders bombed the railway station, shops, pharmacies and other civilian buildings in the center of the village. At the same time, the military infrastructure that the invaders placed in Kazachya, as well as the Russian military, were not damaged.” Various local sources quoted Zadorenko and provided similar information.

Russian sources including Russian state-run RIA Novosti attributed the bombing to Ukrainian forces, accusing Ukraine of bombing “civilian objects, including at the point of issue of humanitarian aid,” resulting in the death of four civilians and the injury of at least two others. Quoting a “representative of the local provisional administration,” the Russian source reported that the shelling occurred around noon and involved 52 mm artillery guns. Discussing the victims, a local resident told RIA that a teenage girl was wounded when she was “returning home with their grandmother with food products. The grandmother was killed on the spot, the girl’s leg was torn off.”

This assessment corresponds to ACLED code UKR53666.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Ukrainian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian bombing of Kozacha Lopan on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Slovoidilo)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Zadorenko
  • Damage from an alleged Russian cluster bomb on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @TRTRussian)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Tatyana Radchuk
  • The armed forces of Ukraine from heavy guns fired at the border village of Kazachya Lopan, Kharkiv region. They beat exclusively on civilian objects, including at the point of issue of humanitarian aid. At that moment, another batch of food and basic necessities was distributed to people. As a result, four civilians were killed and several others were injured.
  • In the LNR reported 4 dead after the shelling of the village in the Kharkiv region by the Armed Forces of Ukraine As reported in the Luhansk People's Republic, in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian soldiers fired on the village of Cossack Lopan from heavy guns. According to preliminary information, the shelling lasted about half an hour, and in total about forty shells were fired from the MSTA. As a result of the shelling, four people were killed, and more than two were injured. “The first shells fell around noon, it was at this time that almost the entire village (and this is at least a thousand people) received Russian humanitarian aid. Also, blows were delivered to the area of the village council and the local school. There were also people there and received humanitarian aid,” the LPR noted. The victims were evacuated to the Russian Federation for medical assistance. Among the wounded civilians was a 12-year-old girl, she was caught on the street with her grandmother when they were returning to their home with food products. An elderly woman died on the spot, and the girl was seriously injured, the LPR reported. Some residents managed to leave their homes when everything calmed down. They traveled on foot to the Russian border to take cover from shelling.
  • Damage caused by shelling of Cossack Lopan on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Rossaprimavera.ru)
  • Ukrainian security forces shelled the recently liberated village of Kozachya Lopan in Kharkiv region. According to the RIA Novosti news agency, the first shells fell around noon. It was at this time that at least a thousand people gathered in the square to receive Russian humanitarian aid. According to preliminary information, four people were killed and at least two wounded. The victims, including a 12-year-old girl, were evacuated to Russia.
  • Kozachya Lopan was shelled with heavy weapons during the distribution of humanitarian aid Ukrainian militants shelled the village of Kozachya Lopan in Kharkiv region with heavy guns. The settlement is under the control of the Russian army. They organized a distribution of humanitarian aid there, and when hundreds of people arrived, the neo-Nazis opened fire on them. There were fatalities and injuries.

Geolocation notes (4) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention strikes in multiple locations in the town of Kozacha Lopan (Козача Лопань). Analysing audiovisual material from sources, we have narrowed these locations down to the following coordinates: 50.336013, 36.193996; 50.334438, 36.190772.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Zvezda

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    Zvezda

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    First Kharkov

  • Tagged visual material from sources

    Imagery:
    First Kharkov

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 6
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attackers
    Russian Military, Ukrainian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK066

Incident date

March 17, 2022

Location

Рынок Барабашова, Barabashovo market complex, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.002250, 36.304934 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On March 17 2022, shortly before 14:00, a missile allegedly fired by a Russia BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher system hit Barabashovo market on Akademika Pavlova Street in Kharkiv, killing one rescue worker and injuring another rescue worker and a woman. One Telegram channel with a clear pro-Russian stance source accused the Ukrainian military of intentionally setting the fire.

A state rescuer was killed by injuries sustained in a secondary strike on the location during rescue efforts in a double tap strike. Pravda News reported that multiple trading pavilions within the market complex were on fire and two surrounding residential buildings were partially damaged in the blaze. A Telegram post from Truexa News subsequently reported that shrapnel flew into a nearby house damaging the garden and part of the house and injuring one woman.

According to operational information from the State Emergency Service, reported by Pravda news, while working to extinguish the fire another missile hit in which two of the rescuers were injured by shrapnel. Both were taken to hospital but the member of the rescue crew sadly did not survive his injuries. Double tap strikes are commonly perceived as infringing on the Principle of Distinction as defined by International Humanitarian Law.

The Emergency Services reported that 21 units of the fire and rescue teams attended the fire with approximately 100 personnel working to extinguish the fire resulting from the missile attack. A Telegram post by Truexa News noted that the fire was finally extinguished after 17 hours, with trading pavilions and two residential buildings partially damaged, and that all efforts had been made to prevent the spread of the fire.

Preliminary data cited in a report on Facebook from the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in the Kharkiv region suggests that the shelling occurred from a Grad multiple launch rocket systems. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project also reported that the fire was a result of shelling from a Russian BM-21 Grad, a Soviet design multiple rocket launcher. However, Russian sources on Telegram channel Perviy Kharkovskyi claimed that the fire had been started by the Ukrainian Army.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR53662.

The incident occured at approximately 2:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Slovoidilo)
  • Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Slovoidilo)
  • Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Slovoidilo)
  • Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
  • Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
  • Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
  • Fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
  • Fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
  • Damage at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
  • Damage at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
  • Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Pravda News)
  • Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Today)
  • Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Unian via Telegram)
  • Kharkiv Barabashova
  • Kharkiv Barabashova until extinguishing the fire after the explosions.
  • Kharkiv they burned the Barabashov market
  • Kharkiv The Barabashov market is on fire
  • Barabashov Market in Kharkov
  • The famous "Drum" - the market of Barabashov is on fire. As one of the subscribers wrote to us, the "zahysnyks" themselves lit it. People were standing at the "new mail", department 6, and they perfectly saw who was shooting and where they were flying.
  • Barabashov is on fire/Peaceful areas
  • It will not be dark in Kharkiv today ( Barabashovo is burning. Barabashov Market is the largest industrial goods market in Ukraine, with an area of more than 75 hectares, it is the largest in Eastern Europe and ranks 14th in the ranking of the largest markets in the world.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Barabashovo market (Рынок Барабашова) complex in the city of Kharkiv (Харків). The generic coordinates for the complex are: 50.002250, 36.304934. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Marketplace
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK064

Incident date

March 17, 2022

Location

Золочів, Zolochiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.273048, 35.977971 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Alleged Russian shelling attacks on the village of Zolochiv in Kharkiv killed a woman and wounded two others, including a child, on March 17, 2022.

The village of Zolochiv endured heavy shelling, allegedly from Russian forces on March 17th. In the midst of the bombing, a 44 year old mother covered her four year daughter. While the daughter was wounded, her mother was killed. The girl’s father was also wounded. Twitter users @KHARKIV_RULIT, @EmineDzheppar, and @f_o_r_Ukraine provided images of the wounded girl and her home post-shelling.

A more detailed account was posted by the Kharkiv Times at Times.kharkiv.ua. The report included a description of the strike provided by Viktor Kovalenko to Suspilne Media: “The shell came when she and her child were sleeping in the house by the window. The woman covered her 4-year-old daughter with her body, but she herself did not survive. The child has a leg injury. There was also a man there – he also had an injury. The doctors rendered assistance to the injured in the hospital – they pulled out the fragments, made bandages. Their house is partially destroyed.”

Kovalenko was described as “the head of the community” in the report.  Kovalenko also noted that the alleged Russian artillery began shelling the village around 2 am and continued until roughly 4 am. There were about 15 explosions in total. Seven private houses, electricity and gas networks were damaged.

In a story posted by Objectiv.tv, the forty-four year old mother shielded her daughter from death and lost her life in the process. The article went on to say that, “a pre-trial investigation has been launched into violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder (part 2 of article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).” This description of an impending investigation was corroborated by a Facebook post from Prokuratura Kharkiv.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR53712.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility, Power Station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @EmineDzheppar)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @EmineDzheppar)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @EmineDzheppar)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Objectiv TV)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Zolochiv on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Objectiv TV)
  • Screenshot of post by GX on Facebook
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Prokuratura Kharkiv

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zolochiv (Золочів), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.273048, 35.977971. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Gas facility, Power Station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK065

Incident date

March 17, 2022

Location

Мерефа, Merefa, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.809894, 36.056189 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On March 17th, alleged Russian bombardment struck the village of Merefa, wounding up to 26 people and killing up to 23 others. Sources were conflicted as to whether those killed were members of the Ukrainian military or civilians.

Susplilne Media described a Russian “artillery” attack upon Merefa. Twitter user @tincazzi posted pictures of the remains of an alleged Russian missile, asking for followers to help identify what the user believed was a “long range cruise missile”. Telegram user Kharkiv_1654 posted that a “Russian rocket blew up a school today in the city of Merefa.” The initial report from Suspline described the scene in Merefa, at 3:30 a.m., saying that Russian shelling destroyed a school and a cultural center, and damaged nearby houses. Suspline went on to quote Veniamin Sitov, head of the Merefyansk community: “We got to the center of the cultural center, nothing was left of it. There were people in it. Of the civilians, thank God, there are no victims, there are some of the military. The civilians managed to escape the destruction, the military was sent to the hospital,” said Sitov.

According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, 21 people died, 25 were injured, 10 of them were in serious condition. This report was later released and supported by Censor.Net News, Slk.kh.ua, Slovoidilo.ua, and Zaxid News. Zaxid was the first to list the number of wounded as twenty-six. In addition to the detail about the destruction, these reports, as well as Facebook posts from Prokuratura Kharkiv, also noted that investigators of the State Security Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv Region launched a pre-trial investigation into the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

RBC-Ukraine News reported that, “in the Kharkiv region, the consequences of enemy attacks on Merefa continue to be eliminated. The number of dead and injured continues to grow.” Sq.com.ua and and Newsroom.kh.ua later noted an increase in casualties, both elevating the number of wounded to twenty-six and the dead to twenty-three.

A Telegram message by user Perviy Kharkovskyi, identified as a Telegram channel with a clear pro-Russian stance, reiterated that a Russian “Kalibr” missile caused the casualties but referred to those killed and injured as soldiers, and went on to question why soldiers were in a school and the cultural center, “civilian objects.”

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR53681 and Bellingcat code CIV0410.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 26
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–23
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–26
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–23

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (46) [ collapse]

  • Remains of what was allegedly identified as a Russian missile that struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @tincazzi)
  • Remains of what was allegedly identified as a Russian missile that struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @tincazzi)
  • Remains of what was allegedly identified as a Russian missile that struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @tincazzi)
  • Destruction caused by an alleged Russian missile that struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by @tincazzi)
  • Merefa, Kharkiv region, bombed the 6th school
  • Type of Russian missile that allegedly struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv_1654 via Telegram)
  • Remains of what was allegedly identified as a Russian missile that struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv_1654 via Telegram)
  • Remains of what was allegedly identified as a Russian missile that struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv_1654 via Telegram)
  • Remains of what was allegedly identified as a Russian missile that struck the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv_1654 via Telegram)
  • Emergency services respond to alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by 2day.kh.ua)
  • Emergency services respond to alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by 2day.kh.ua)
  • Emergency services respond to alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by DSNS via Telegram)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Censor)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Prokuratura Kharkiv
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Prokuratura Kharkiv)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News via Telegram)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News via Telegram)
  • Destruction caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News via Telegram)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Consequences of alleged Russian shelling of the center of Merefa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by RBC-Ukraine and taken by Getty)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merafa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Parlament.ua)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merafa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Parlament.ua)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merafa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Parlament.ua)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merafa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Parlament.ua)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Merafa on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Parlament.ua)
  • Near Kharkov, they attacked the city of Merefa. A fire is raging there.
  • 21 people died, 25 were injured as a result of the night shelling of the city of Merefa near Kharkiv - the regional prosecutor's office. As a result of enemy shelling, the school and cultural center were destroyed.
  • Merefa School again. House of culture. Victims

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Merefa (Мерефа), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.809894, 36.056189. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 26
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–23
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–26
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–23

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

UKUK001

Incident date

March 17, 2022

Location

Липці, Lyptsy, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.207362, 36.421385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and for civilians, including a pregnant woman, an elderly woman, and a child, were killed by alleged Ukrainian shelling of the village of Lyptsy on March 17, 2022.

Russian source @Zud_West tweeted that Ukrainian forces shelled the village of Lyptsy, killing a pregnant woman.

Russian state owned news RIA Novosti quoted Sergei Moiseyev, head of the Rus Triune NGO, who said that “four people were killed, including a pregnant woman with an unborn child, another child and an elderly woman. There was shelling of the village of Liptsy, a shell exploded near the local hospital. Doctors and local residents – eyewitnesses told about all this.”

RIA Novosti added that Moiseyev was only able to provide information on the victims of the shelling on March 20th because there was no telephone or internet connection.

According to a tweet from @nkrav10, Russian forces had been occupying Lyptsy village since the first day of the war and had been looting people’s houses.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • 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 attacker
    Ukrainian Military
  • Suspected target
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Ukrainian shelling of Lyptsy on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Izvestiya)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Lyptsy (Липці), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.207362, 36.421385. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Ukrainian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 4
  • (1 child1–2 women)
  • 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 attacker
    Ukrainian Military
  • Suspected target
    Russian Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK067

Incident date

March 18, 2022

Location

Пісочин, Pisochyn, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.954732, 36.103120 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On March 18 2022, one person was injured when 10 residential buildings in Pisochyn, Kharkiv were hit by suspected Russian shelling which also burnt a car and damaged several others, according to local sources.

Oleg Chornobai, the Head of the Pisochyn community announced the incident via Facebook, also stating that one person was injured in the attack. Initially gas and electricity services to the 10 damaged residential buildings were cut off but state services quickly worked to reinstate these. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Russia, with NV News specifically referring to Russian shelling.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR54161.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Power Station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Car damaged by alleged Russian shelling of Pisochyn on March 18, 2022. (Image posted by NV.ua)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Oleg Chernobay
  • Damage to electric poles caused by alleged Russian shelling of Pisochyn on March 18, 2022. (Image posted by Oleg Chernobay via Facebook)
  • Damage to electric poles caused by alleged Russian shelling of Pisochyn on March 18, 2022. (Image posted by Oleg Chernobay via Facebook)
  • Car damaged by alleged Russian shelling of Pisochyn on March 18, 2022. (Image posted by Oleg Chernobay via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the suburb of Pisochyn (Пісочин) on the outskirts of the city of Kharkiv (Харків). The generic coordinates for Pisochyn are: 49.95345, 36.10418. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Power Station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK068

Incident date

March 18, 2022

Location

Заводи, Zavody, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.153532, 37.066624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On March 18th 2022, alleged Russian bombardment struck the village of Zavody, Kharkiv, killing four civilians, including two women and a child, and wounding one, a woman. The initial reports described a Russian shell striking a residential building.

A collection of sources noted that a family was killed in a suspected Russian airstrike.  A man, two women, and an eleven-year-old boy were killed and another woman was wounded.  One initial report came from Korresondent.net, while Kh-News.net corroborated this information. Additionally, Security Services Investigators began an investigation into the shelling.

Prokuratura Khakiv posted on Facebook that armed forces of the Russian Federation fired upon the village of Zavody in the Izyum district of Kharkiv. Telegram user @hveriykharkov reported that a “projectile” from Russian forces flew straight into a residential building. Khpg.org, ombudsman.gav.ua, Twitter user @ukrainian247, and the Khakiv Times all reported via websites and Twitter that a residential area was struck by what are believed to be Russian shells.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR53534

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "Investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office, began an investigation into the Russian shelling of the village of Zavody in the Izyum district, as a result of which four people died and another was injured," according to the Korrespondent (Image via Korrespondent)
  • "Today, on March 18, Russian invaders shelled the village of Zavody in the Izyum region. According to the press service of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office, a shell hit one of the residential buildings." (Image via Kh-news.net)
  • "In the Izyum Oblast, the occupiers continue to fire on the civilian population - an investigation has been launched" (Image via Prokuraturakharkiv / Facebook)
  • "On March 18, 2022, servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out artillery shelling of the village. Factories of Izyum District, Kharkiv Region. As a result of the shelling, four people - members of one family - were killed." (Image via Kharkiv.ua)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zavody (Заводи), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.153532, 37.066624. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child2 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (13) [ collapse]