Russian bombings in Ukraine: the Ukrainian president denounces a “war crime” in Kharkiv

Just before the impending attack on the capital Kiev, Russia bombed the country's second city.

Kharkiv, 1.4 million inhabitants close to the Russian border.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that the Russian bombardment of Kharkiv constituted a "war crime", and stressed that the defense of the capital Kiev was the "priority".

“The strike against Kharkiv is a war crime.

This is state terrorism,” Zelensky claimed in a video address posted on Telegram.

“They are advancing on the capital as on Kharkiv.

This is why the defense of the capital is today the key priority” of Ukraine.

Read alsoWar in Ukraine: the sixth day of the Russian offensive in pictures

Moscow claims not to target civilian areas, while residential neighborhoods are bombed.

Russian fire killed several civilians, including children.

Rescuers continue to find bodies under the rubble.

‼️The Russian strikes affect the city center of Kharkiv with its administrative buildings.

#UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/lNFtUqkr0j

— Andrei VAITOVICH (@andreivaitovich) March 1, 2022

“Russian shelling of civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv violates the laws of war.

The EU is at Ukraine's side in these dramatic moments,” European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

Spoke to @DmytroKuleba.

The shelling against civilian infrastructure yesterday in #Kharkiv violates the laws of war.

The EU stands unwavering at the side of Ukraine in these dramatic moments.

pic.twitter.com/gfkBbHCRnB

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 1, 2022

On the sixth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the central square of Kharkiv was shelled and the regional prefecture affected, regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said in a video on Telegram showing the explosion.

"The Russian occupier continues to use heavy weapons against the civilian population," he wrote, posting images of a huge explosion in the city's central square, where the headquarters of the local administration.