Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RUK178

Incident date

May 5, 2022

Location

«Фельдман Екопарк» смт. Лісне Харківський район, territory of "Feldman Ecopark" Lisne Kharkiv district, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.102521, 36.281168 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On May 5, 2022, Feldman Ecopark, a site located to the north of the city of Kharkiv, was reportedly hit with Russian shelling. According to officials, local media, and the park’s owner, this resulted in the death of a fifteen-year-old boy and up to three civilians sustaining injuries, two of them serious.

According to the owner of Feldman Ecopark, Alexander Feldman, the strike occurred whilst volunteers were on-site contributing to attempts to remove the park’s animals to safety. Writing on the day of the incident, Feldman provided details in a Facebook post, stating, “During the evacuation of buffaloes from Feldman Ecopark, the team of our employees and volunteers got under fire. One person died. Two people were seriously injured. Doctors are fighting for their lives. The deceased boy was only 15 years old. He helped his parents to feed and evacuate the animals. The blessed memory of the hero will always remain in our hearts. This is the sixth victim from among members of our team.” This incident was subsequently reported by local outlets, including Odessa News and Suspilne Media.

In the afternoon of May 5, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced on Telegram that a pre-trial investigation had been launched concerning the “violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder.” The post confirmed that a fifteen-year-old volunteer had been killed and a further three volunteers had been injured.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR57219.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Feldman Ecopark (Фельдман Екопарк), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.102521, 36.281168. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Pochta.feldman
  • Today, during the evacuation of buffaloes from the Feldman Ecopark, a team of employees and volunteers came under fire. One person died. Two people were seriously injured. They are fighting for their lives

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
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]