First satellite pics after Ukraine invasion show civilians hit by Russian airstrikes

Satellite image of Chuhuiv airport near Kharkiv, before and after Russian strikes. (Courtesy Planet Labs PBC, annotation Ankit Kumar, India Today

The first set of high-resolution satellite images after Russia invaded Ukraine showed civilian apartments near airports hit during the airstrikes. The airport at Chuhuiv airport near Kharkiv was targeted by Russian bomber jets on Thursday morning. Satellite pictures provided by Space Company Planet Labs PBC showed a large plume of smoke near the runway. The radar and possible air-defence systems seem to have been completely annihilated by the early morning Russian air attack.

Associated with the Training Brigade of Ukraine’s Air Force, the airport suffered major damage during the airstrikes.

Chuhuiv airport, Kharkiv. pic.twitter.com/xhd0KM4rZz

— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) February 24, 2022

Soon after the strikes, several social media videos claimed that civilian apartments were hit near the airport during Russian airstrikes on Thursday.

Civilians already suffering a heavy toll in Putin’s war. This apartment block in Chuhuiv, south of Kharkiv, was hit in the opening salvos.

Number of casualties unknown at this point.pic.twitter.com/HkXgLxIBLL

— Jimmy (@JimmySecUK) February 24, 2022

The satellite imagery collected only hours after the attack provide a visual confirmation of this incident as fire truck deployed to control the fire is seen near the apartment in the pictures.

Several civilians were reportedly injured during the incident.