Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RUK194

Incident date

May 11, 2022

Location

Новий Мерчик, Noviy Merchyk, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.973204, 35.655624 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the morning of 11th May 2022 at 10:45 am, a 26yr old civilian tractor driver from Gadyach was allegedly struck with a guided missile launched from a low-flying Russian aircraft whilst working in a field in the village of Novy Merchik. The attack caused multiple burns and leg injuries to the tractor driver and left them hospitalised in a serious condition according to Head of the Kharkiv OVA Oleg Sinegubov.

Witnesses at the scene stated the Russian plane flew at a low altitude when it launched the missile and had come past for a second lap, resulting in Oleksandr Osetrov, director of Nika, the injured worker’s employer to vehemently declare that “we can assume that the enemy clearly saw and understood that they were aiming a missile at civilians, which is unacceptable”.

As a result, Sergei Bolvinov, head of the Investigation Department of the National Police in Kharkiv, specified as a result of this alleged targetted attack, the Bohodukhiv District Police Department of the Kharkiv Regional Police along with prosecutors of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, both of whom had members examine the scene, have launched Criminal proceedings under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Violation of laws and customs of war). The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the SBU Office in the Kharkiv region.

The State Emergency Service units worked at the scene and extinguished the fire caused by the missile at 12:21.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR57622.

The incident occured at approximately 10:45 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (13) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Suspilne News via Telegram)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Suspilne News via Telegram)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by DSNS in Kharkiv region
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Kharkiv City Council
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by the National Police via Facebook)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by the National Police
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Bohodukhiv district state administration
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Hromadske News)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Hromadske News)
  • Damage to a tractor in Novyi Merchyk village caused by alleged Russian airstrikes on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by Hromadske News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Noviy Merchyk (Новий Мерчик), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.973204, 35.655624. 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
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (21) [ collapse]