Death toll from Russian strike on Kharkiv rises to eight

The death toll from a Russian strike on Kharkiv has risen to eight as search-and-rescue operations continue at the site of a damaged residential building.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, rescuers have recovered the bodies of eight victims from the rubble of a five-story apartment building hit in the attack.

At 12:19, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed the updated death toll, writing on Telegram that the eighth victim had been found beneath the debris.

Earlier, Terekhov reported that the sixth victim recovered from the site was a boy.

Authorities also confirmed that the body of a 13-year-old girl was discovered among the victims. The information was provided by Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.

Emergency services said rescue teams are continuing to search the rubble while also working to extinguish a fire caused by the strike. Personnel from the Kharkiv and other regional units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are involved in the response, including sappers, canine teams and psychologists.

By Tamilla Hasanova