Photo from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region
The daily onslaught on Kharkiv’s civilian infrastructure by Russian forces is escalating to horrifying levels. The world must unite to crush this insidious Russian aggression!
For the third year now, since Vladimir Putin decided to initiate the so-called “special military operation,” which, in reality, is Russia’s war of invasion of Ukraine, the residents of Kharkiv hear explosions daily, witness deaths and injuries, and search for their loved ones among the missing.
On May 25th, Kharkiv endured over 20 hours of terror as Russian bombs rained down relentlessly. With ruthless precision, the Russian military struck Kharkiv four times in a single day, targeting schools, supermarkets, and residential areas. Russian forces once again launched a missile strike against the civilian population of Ukraine. This time, the “Epicenter” shopping centre in Kharkiv was targeted, with approximately 200 people inside at the moment of the strike. So far, 15 people have been reported dead and 43 injured. Yet, predictably, the Russian regime brazenly denies culpability, fabricating claims of a supposed military target. Russians assert that the “Epicenter” housed a stockpile of Western weapons and a command post that their intelligence had identified. However, surveillance camera footage shows that the missile hit the plumbing department. This egregious incident underscores Russia’s flagrant disregard for human life and its blatant violation of international norms and conventions of warfare. Their objective is crystal clear—to lay waste to Ukraine, pillaging and plundering with impunity.
Innocent lives are snuffed out, families are torn apart, and communities are left shattered in the wake of each merciless assault. The “Epicenter” construction hypermarket, once a bustling hub of activity, now lies in ruins, consumed by flames ignited by Russian aggression. The death toll continues to climb, with scores injured and countless others missing, presumed dead.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Kharkiv, which is under daily shelling by Russian forces, and recorded a video message calling on world leaders to take part in the Peace Summit to be held on 15 June in Bern, Switzerland.
The Kremlin’s barbaric campaign of terror knows no bounds as Russian air bombs and missiles rain down on Kharkiv’s civilian population, sparing neither women nor children. Putin’s insatiable lust for power drives him to annihilate Ukrainians and obliterate peaceful cities, all in pursuit of his twisted imperial ambitions. But the time has come to vanquish the Russian menace and safeguard the future of Ukraine and the world.
The global community must demonstrate its leadership in bringing about the long-awaited peace, and a step towards this will be participation in the Global Peace Summit, which will take place in less than a month (June 15-16 in Switzerland). Over 80 countries have already confirmed their participation, countries that truly want to be involved in solving the global problem – stopping the unprovoked Russian war of invasion, which could escalate into a third world war if the aggressor is not stopped.
The issues to be discussed at the High-Level Conference are extremely important for everyone – nuclear, energy, and food security. As part of the initiation of the Peace Summit, Ukraine demonstrates to the entire community its desire to end the war based on the norms of international law and universal human values. This fundamentally differs from Russia’s belligerence and expansionist agenda. International partners and Ukraine must do everything possible to defeat the Russian aggressor, therefore support for the Peace Summit by all countries through personal leadership and participation is more important than ever.
