20 dead after civilian convoy attacked in Ukraine: Kharkiv Governor

Kharkiv region governor Oleh Syniehubov said that at least 20 civilians were killed after their convoy came under attack. The civilians were reportedly attempting to flee the Kupiansky district. Syniehubov said that the “сruelty that can’t be justified.”

Photographs of the attacked convoy were shared by the Security Service of Ukraine, also known as SBU. The photos showed at least one truck that was blown up. Burned corpses were also seen.

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“In the Kupiansk district, a shot-at convoy of cars containing civilians was found. According to preliminary data, 20 people died in the cars”, Syniehubov wrote in a Telegram post, news agency AFP reported.

Another vehicle at the front of the convoy also had been ablaze. Bodies lay on the side of the road or still inside their vehicles, which had dozens of bullet holes, news agency Associated Press reported.

The SBU said the convoy was attacked with “small arms fire,” while the governor said it was shelled. The discrepancy could not be immediately resolved. The exact date of the attack was not announced.

Russian forces have not acknowledged or commented on the attack. Russian troops have retreated from much of the Kharkiv region after a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive last month but have continued to shell the area.

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The fighting comes at a pivotal moment in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war. Facing Ukrainian gains on the battlefield — which he frames as a US-orchestrated effort to destroy Russia — Putin this week heightened his threats of nuclear force and used his most aggressive, anti-Western rhetoric to date.

Putin announced on Friday that Russia would annex four regions of Ukraine. However, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to keep on fighting to liberate the annexed regions and other Russian-occupied areas.