Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RUK014

Incident date

February 28, 2022

Location

перехрестя вул. Бучми та вул. Гвардійців Широнинців, junction of Buchmy and Hvardiitsiv Shyronintsiv streets, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.028182, 36.354090 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 28th 2022, a reported Russian forces attack hit the junction of Buchmy and Hvardiitsiv Shyronintsiv streets in the city of Kharkiv, killing civilians. Most sources reported that this number was at least nine civilians, including children.  ACLED reported that ‘tens’ of people were killed, but this was coded as ten fatalities in their dataset. AOAV reported a higher number of deaths and put the toll at eleven. Kharkiv Human Rights Group reported that there were “dozens of dead, probably hundreds of wounded.” Hromadske news was the only source to report a lower number, reporting that “at least one person died.”

“Dozens” to “hundreds” were reported injured, a number which differed between local sources.

ACLED reported that this attack potentially included “thermobaric artillery”, and Russian forces using multiple rocket launchers and bombed with airstrikes.

Poradyorg.ua reported that the Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Anton Gerashchenko, said on Telegram that Russian forces’ shells hit a high-rise building in this area.

A tweet from @k2-3300 referred to “A large group of Ukrainian armed forces is being liquidated in garages on Buchma Street!” without reference to how many Ukrainian soldiers were killed, or if they died during the same attack.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code: UKR54214.

The incident occured at approximately 12:50 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • A reported Russian missile in Buchma Street, Kharkiv on February 28th 2022 (Image via Porady.org.ua)
  • A reported Russian missile in Buchma Street, Kharkiv on February 28th 2022 (Image via Porady.org.ua)
  • A reported Russian missile in Buchma Street, Kharkiv on February 28th 2022 (Image via Porady.org.ua)
  • A reported Russian missile in Buchma Street, Kharkiv on February 28th 2022 (Image via Porady.org.ua)
  • A reported Russian missile in Buchma Street, Kharkiv on February 28th 2022 (Image via Porady.org.ua)
  • A reported Russian missile in Buchma Street, Kharkiv on February 28th 2022 (Image via Porady.org.ua)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the junction of Buchmy Street (вул. Бучми) and Hvardiitsiv Shyronintsiv Street (вул. Гвардійців Широнинців) in the city of Kharkiv (Харків). The generic coordinates for this junction are: 50.028182, 36.354090. 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
    1 – 12
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS495

Incident date

February 28, 2022

Location

قرية التوخار, Al Tafkhar village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.639318, 37.980547 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Al Tafkhar on February 28, 2022.

Hawar News reported that a civilian was injured by Turkish shelling on the village of Al Tafkhar. The media center of the Manbij Military Council said that the Turkish forces struck at exactly 8:00 this morning the inhabited village of Al Tafkhar, located north of the city of Manbij, with 7 mortar shells, “which led to the injury of a civilian.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that the shelling resulted in material damage to civilians’ property. A local source told North Press that “the bombing also targeted the house of Kafi Al-Jassem (35 years), a resident of the village, without mentioning additional information.”

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces and North Press Agency identified the shelling as coming from the Turkish base overlooking the village of Al-Tokhar Al-Kabeer and Al-Waqa’a, at the northwestern edge of the village.

The incident occured at 08:00:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the village of Al Tafkhar (التوخار), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.639318, 37.980547. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK019

Incident date

February 28, 2022

Location

Рогань, Rohan’, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.901727, 36.486292 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and another civilian was injured by alleged Russian shelling of the village of Rohan on February 28, 2022.

The Kharkiv Human Rights Group reported that in the village of Rohan, a residential building was hit by artillery shelling and caught on fire, resulting in the death of one person and injury of another person.

Army Inform News referred to those killed and injured as “men”.

There were no other details available about the victims or the location.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR54071.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • They hit two sleeping areas. Rohan and Oleksiivka. It is already known about 14 wounded and 3 dead Вдарили по двох спальних районах. Рогань та Олексіївка. Вже відомо про 14 поранених та 3 загиблих (Facebook post by Anna Annuschka)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rohan (Рогань), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.901727, 36.486292. 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
    1
  • (1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4442

Incident date

February 27, 2022

Location

اّفس, Afes, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were killed and between two and four other civilians were injured in alleged Russian or regime artillery shelling of the town of Afes on February 27, 2022.

The Syrian Civil Defense reported that two civilians were killed and two others were injured when the regime forces and Russian forces bombed a market in the center of Afes.

Syrian Network for Human Rights gave the names of the two civilians killed: Hussein Aboud al Aboud and Ismail Farzat Mas’oud. Local news channel @Almohrar1 reported the names of the civilians injured: Iyad Zreik and Zaher Masoud. Zaman Al Wasl added that Iyad Zreik is the principal of the school of the town of “Afes”.

Shaam News quotes activists who said that a popular market was struck with several artillery shells, which led to the death of two civilians and the wounding of others, including a teacher, in addition to the “massive destruction of the facilities” of the market. @Syrianfreeyouth also identified a kindergarten as being struck by the shelling and Zaman Al Wasl add details of the location as being ” in the center of the town of “Afes”, near the city of “Saraqib” at the intersection of the two international highways (M4 and M5)”.

Macro Media Center reported on the incident, providing information that four people were injured and one person was killed in the artillery shelling.

According to Zaiton Mag, “the civil defense teams rescued the victims and treated the injured from the village clinic to the hospitals in Idlib city.”

Syrian Network for Human Rights noted that “the village’s main market has been almost empty recently as most of the village residents were displaced as a result of previous military operations by the Syrian-Russian alliance in the region.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified Afes village as “considered as one of the “Turkish Army” strongholds in “De-escalation Zone” where number of points and bases of the Turkish Army are located”.

The majority of sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the Syrian regime. However, local journalist @anasanas84 and a local nonprofit @Syrianfreeyouth blamed the shelling on Russian forces.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Aboud al Aboud مسعود حسين عبود
Adult male killed
Ismail Farzat Mas’oud اسماعيل فرزات
Age unknown male killed
Iyad Zreik إياد زريق
Age unknown injured
Zaher Masoud زاهر مسعود
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • White Helmets rescue and treat one of the civilians injured in alleged Russian or regime strikes on Afes on February 27, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Civil Defense)
  • The bombing of a popular market in the town of Afes in the countryside of Idlib led to the fall of two martyrs and the injury of civilians.
  • Here in Idlib, death has been going on for 10 years now... And no one wants to hear or see... As if everyone is enjoying our death... #Martyrs and wounded in #Efes, east of #Idlib
  • The crime of #Russia continues from #Syria to #Ukraine Two martyrs and several wounded as a result of Russian artillery shelling on the town of Afs, east of Idlib, a while ago
  • Our correspondent reported the killing of two civilians and the wounding of others in shelling by the regime forces targeting the town of Afes in Idlib countryside
  • Hussein Aboud al Aboud, killed in alleged Russian or regime shelling of Afes village on February 27, 2022. (Image posted by Hussein Al Hadidi via Facebook)

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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, Syrian Regime

Sources (35) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK012

Incident date

February 27, 2022

Location

Кунье, Kunye, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.393164, 37.240925 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 27th, 2022, in Kunye village, in Izyumsky district, Kharkiv oblast, three civilians were reportedly killed and two injured by Russian shelling on a school. A fire was allegedly caused by the shelling that hit Zhovtneviy street. The head of Kunye rural territorial community, Nerses Nersisyan, reported that the shelling damaged the school and several houses nearby. @antiputler_news twitted that it occurred at around 8 pm local time. According to Valery Marchenko, chairman of Izyum city, the injured were taken to Izyumsky hospital for treatment.

According to several local sources, two civilians died where the attack took place, while another one later died in hospital. The chairman of Izyum city added that all the victims came from Kunye village.

The incident occured at approximately 8:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Three civilians were reportedly killed and two others injured by a Russian shelling on a school in Kunye village, on February 27th, 2022. Source: 2day.kh
  • On February 27, 2022, a school was hit by Russian shelling, leading to 3 civilians killed and 2 injured in Kunye village. Source: Obrii.com

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the secondary school of Kunye (Кунье), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.393164, 37.240925. 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
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK006

Incident date

February 26, 2022

Location

Безруки, Bezruky, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.171762, 36.119517 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed as a result of Russian forces’ shelling of the village of Bezruky, in Kharkiv on February 26th 2022.

A Russian BMP, an infantry fighting vehicle, was reportedly abandoned and destroyed.

This assessment has reference to ACLED code UKR54063 and Bellingcat code CIV0174.

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
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • Anton Koval reported on Facebook that one civilian was killed in the village of Bezruka on February 26th 2022

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bezruky (Безруки), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.171762, 36.119517. 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 harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

RUK010

Incident date

February 26, 2022

Location

Волохів Яр, Volokhiv Yar, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

49.600219, 36.9786094 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On February 26th 2022, between one and five civilians were killed, including two 42 year old women and three young men, two who were born in 2000 and 2004, were reported killed and 14 others reported wounded when a passenger bus was hit by alleged Russian gunfire in the village of Volokhiv Yar, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Espreso.tv put the death toll at five, and stated that “all five dead and wounded are from the local Toretsk community,” quoting the of the Donetsk regional administration Pavel Kirilenko. Other local sources from local media and Twitter put the death toll between one to five. Pravda News indicated that two 42 year old women were killed in this incident.

Multiple local sources including @insheTV5 identified the incident as occurring on the Izyum-Kharkov highway.

Kotenok Z, a Russian war correspondent, and Russian news site Donbass Today both reported that it was “possible” that Ukrainian forces could’ve carried out the shelling because of the “concentration of AFU equipment on Saltovka.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • "On the Izyum-Kharkov highway, the Russian military fired at a passenger bus, 1 person was killed, 14 were injured." (Image via Samvel Sahakyan / Facebook)
  • "On Saturday, February 26, in the Kharkiv region on the Izyum-Kharkov highway, the Russian military fired on a passenger bus with people." (Image via Aif.ua)
  • "Russia continues to attack the civilian population of Ukraine. On the section of the Izyum-Kharkov highway, the enemy fired on a bus with civilians. There are wounded, one person died," Head of Kharkiv regional administration, Oleg Sinegubov said (Image via The Planet Press)
  • Invaders fired at a passenger bus on the Izyum-Kharkov highway: there is a victim, 14 wounded

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Volokhiv Yar (Волохів Яр), for which the generic coordinates are: 49.600219, 36.9786094. 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
    1 – 5
  • (2 women3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    14
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK009

Incident date

February 26, 2022

Location

Перехрестя вул ул. Героев труда и ул. Гвардейцев Широнинцев, Intersection of Heroiv Truda Streeet and Guardeitsev Shironintsev Street, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.021049, 36.347895 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians were reportedly killed as a result of Russian forces shelling on Saltovka, a residential area in Kharkiv oblast, on February 26th 2022.

The incident was reported to have taken place at the intersection of Heroe Truda Street and Guardeitsev Shironintsev Street.

Kharkiv Today was the source which provided most in-depth detail:

“Around 15:00, a public transport stop on the street came under fire. Heroes of labor. Trolleybuses were running on the route at that time. One of the pedestrians died. The driver Aleksey confirmed the information to Suspіlny. According to him, the contact network is cut off, trolleybuses cannot be sent to the depot.

Later it became known about the death of another person during the shelling on Saltovka. According to Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova, the type of weapon from which the shelling was carried out has not yet been established: explosions continue on the spot.”

The incident was reported between 15.00 and 19.09.

The incident occured between 3:00 pm and 7:09 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the intersection of Heroiv Truda Street (ул. Героев труда) and Guardeitsev Shironintsev Street (ул. Гвардейцев Широнинцев), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.021049, 36.347895. 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
    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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]