Ukraine's Kharkiv city and its surrounding villages have been hit by a series of aerial strikes as Russian forces push into the region.

Cherkas'ka Lozova

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine's Kharkiv region and its surrounding villages have come under a series of aerial strikes by Russian forces. The village of Cherkaska Lozova, located just north of Kharkiv, experienced a tragic incident when a missile struck a country club on the lake shore. Eyewitnesses report multiple casualties, including Valentina's husband who was killed in the attack while walking his dog.

The village, which is only a short distance from Kharkiv, has been subjected to repeated bombardments. The strikes have targeted both industrial and residential areas, leading some military analysts to suggest that these attacks aim to force the population out. Local authorities have denied any military presence at the country club, countering Russian claims that it was a military facility.

Residents of Cherkaska Lozova recount the devastation. Vita and her family were significantly impacted, with her sister and brother-in-law sustaining severe injuries from a second strike that hit their home. The community continues to grapple with the profound loss and damage inflicted by the ongoing conflict.



Several dead after Russian strikes on village in Kharkiv region

Cherkaska Lozova was a quiet village just north of Kharkiv, where people came to fish. Until 11am this Sunday, the missile ripped through the country club on the lake shore. We ran into Valentina, wandering the road outside it. A fragment hit my head, here a little bit, my blood congealed. It's not that bad. Then I called my husband, but he didn't pick up. You know, he's lying on the lake shore with his dog. Will he stay there? Her husband is one of the dead. This village is just 20 minutes from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city. Russia's been bombarding it for months, hitting industrial targets and residential buildings. Some military analysts believe it's an effort to push the population out. Authorities denied there were soldiers staying in the country club. This is not even a so-called Soviet rest base, as the Russians like to say, in which the armed forces of Ukraine were placed. This is absolute nonsense. People here told us there were two strikes. Vita showed us what they did to her house. You can see the range of the blast here, the destruction in the houses in this village. The windows all in, the roof has been damaged here as well. But it's not just that, it's the people that have been lost or have been injured. Vita's sister and her husband had just flown back to see the family after leaving for Ireland at the start of the war. They were outside when the second strike hit. She had gashes in her breast, her belly, I didn't know how to close them and bandage them. And my brother-in-law's leg was almost inside out and his stomach. One of them was laying here and the blood was pouring out like a fountain. Ambulances have now taken both away and Vita's mum Lyubov starts sweeping up while she waits for news. The full impact of what's happened here hasn't yet sunk in. John Holman, Al Jazeera, Cherkasska Lozova, Ukraine.

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Ukraine Invasion