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During the week, from November 4 to 9, 2024, Russian troops aggressively attacked peaceful Ukrainian cities remote from the front. Kharkiv, Odessa, Kiev and other settlements, where hundreds of thousands and even millions of people live every day, have become targets for drones and missiles. These strikes left behind not only destruction, but also deep psychological and physical wounds, forcing Ukrainians to remember every day that even in the rear, security remains conditional.
KYIV
On the night of November 7, 2024, Kiev experienced another drone attack, which became a serious test for the city and its inhabitants. The air alert lasted eight hours continuously, during which the air force shot down more than thirty enemy drones. However, the wreckage of the downed targets fell in the Pechersk, Solomyansky, Obolonsky and Darnytskyi districts, leaving behind destruction and fires.
In the Holosiivskyi district, the shock wave knocked out windows in a residential building, and fires broke out in the places of falling debris, which were quickly eliminated. One of the debris damaged a medical facility and a high-rise building. A fire broke out there, residents were evacuated. Two civilians were wounded.
“The day when no one died” — this is how Serhiy Nuzhnenko, a photojournalist at Radio Svoboda, who documented the aftermath of the night shelling, describes the events of November 7. “I open the gate torn by the blast wave in the courtyard of a private house, on the street a woman removes broken glass. “Can I go and rent?” I ask. “Yes, your TV colleagues were here, they didn't even ask permission,” she replies, continuing to collect the debris,” - this is how Nuzhnenko describes the moments he witnessed in this new test for the capital.
His clothes absorbed the smell of smoke from a morning fire in warehouses, where firefighters, journalists and random witnesses shared hot tea and coffee near a destroyed coffee shop.
ODESSA
On the night of November 7, 2024, Odessa again became the target of Russian drones, which caused new destruction to the city. The impact smashed 14 cars, damaged the facade and windows of an 11-story apartment building and a gas pipeline, but, fortunately, it did not ignite. The blast wave also knocked out windows in two neighboring five-story buildings.
Oleg Kiper, the head of the Odessa Regional Police, said that as a result of the attack, a 30-year-old man received minor injuries, who was helped on the spot.
This week brought another attack to Odessa: on the night of November 9, Russian drones again struck the city, taking the life of one person and leaving 13 more wounded, including two children. As a result of the shelling, dozens of cars burned down and a large-scale fire broke out in the warehouse, and residential buildings suffered significant damage. Among the victims are two boys aged 4 and 16.
KHARKOV
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On the night of November 8, 2024, when the clock was showing around 3:30 a.m., Kharkiv shuddered from another Russian airstrike. Controlled bombs fell on the Saltivsky district, hitting a 12-story building and leaving behind human pain and destruction. 25 civilians were hit, five of them were wounded — they were taken to hospitals. The rescue was also found by those who were evacuated from the danger zone: 30 people, including four children, were brought out from under the rubble, which still smelled of smoke and dust.
The blast waves swept through neighboring houses, damaging homes, parked cars and subway entrances. The city center also did not remain untouched - historical buildings, public spaces, residential quarters were destroyed there. Fortunately, among the residents of the central part of the city, this time there were no casualties. Photographers Ivan Samoilov and Yevhen Gertner remain in the city and continue to document almost every “arrival”.
KHERSON
On November 8, 2024, the Russians shelled the Dniprovsky district of Kherson with artillery. Around 15:30 an explosive wave swept through the city and touched passers-by, who at this time were trying to live their usual lives. Among them was a 56-year-old man wounded by shelling. He was hospitalized.
In a city where residents are accustomed to constant danger, now among the ruins are residential buildings, broken power grids, destroyed bus stops. This evidence of a crime against civilians was recorded by photojournalist Ivan Antipenko, who published photos of the shelling area near the bus station. Law enforcement officers initiated criminal proceedings, recognizing each such attack as evidence of violation of human and international laws.
This week reminded Ukraine again that peace is the highest value, which, however, demands a high price. In his address, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that in order to counter such attacks, the country needs the support of the world, in particular in air defense systems. “We continue negotiations with partners,” he said, addressing Ukrainians and the international community.
The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vera Labych
Bildeditor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
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