Russian forces conducted an air raid on the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, causing a fire, announced the advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Geratshenko.
"About 8:30 PM, in Kharkiv, Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, situated in the neighborhood of Pyatykhatky, was targeted by an air raid. This is the place where neurons were first discovered in Europe in 1930. The site also hosts a nuclear research facility," wrote Geratshenko in his Telegram channel. Later, Geratshenko clarified that there was a fire on the site of the Institute.
State Emergency Services confirmed that Kharkiv rescuers are putting out the fire in a student dormitory. "At 8:35 PM, the rescuers went to put out the fire in the five-story dormitory on Walter, 19, in the Pyatykhatky neighborhood of Kharkiv. Five rooms on the fifth floor are on fire; the fire area is about 100 square meters," reports the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. According to the preliminary information, there are no victims.
Earlier, Geratshenko announced that about 8:30 PM in Kharkiv, Russian aviation shelled the Institute of Physics and Technology. The site hosts nuclear research facility "Neuron Source" with 37 nuclear fuel cells in its core. Destruction of this facility and nuclear storage could cause a large-scale environmental catastrophe. Kharkiv office of the Security Service of Ukraine opened a criminal investigation for ecocide.
On 6 March, Russian forces fired at the National Scientific Center "Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology" site with Grad multi rocket launchers.