Geolocation
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
Sources (29) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]
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Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Slovoidilo)
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Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Slovoidilo)
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Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Slovoidilo)
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Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
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Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
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Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
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Fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
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Fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
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Damage at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
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Damage at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Truexa News)
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Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Pravda News)
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Rescue workers responded to Barabashovo market following alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Today)
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Smoke from fire at Barabashovo market caused by alleged Russian strikes on March 17, 2022. (Image posted by Unian via Telegram)
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.