At least two people have been killed and several others are missing after a Russian strike targeted a large hardware store in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Saturday. The strike occurred at a construction hypermarket, according to officials.

Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, confirmed the incident in a post on Telegram. He stated that two Russian guided aerial bombs hit the hypermarket, resulting in the deaths of two employees. Syniehubov emphasized that there were no military objects nearby at the time of the attack.

The precise number of casualties remains uncertain as the strike occurred in the afternoon, leaving fears that the death toll could rise. Kharkiv's city mayor, Ihor Terekhov, revealed that roughly 200 people were inside the building during the incident. Authorities have struggled to establish contact with approximately 15 missing employees.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike, labeling it a "brutal attack" in a social media post. Zelensky expressed concern that up to 200 people could have been present in the hypermarket at the time of the strike.

The situation has been further complicated by the presence of flammable materials inside the hypermarket, which has hindered firefighting efforts. Ukraine's Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, warned of the potential for the fire to spread to nearby warehouses. Klymenko also highlighted the constant threat of renewed enemy shelling in the area.

This attack comes as Russian forces continue their advance in the Kharkiv region, having recently crossed the northern border and opened a new front in the ongoing conflict. Thursday's strikes on the city already claimed the lives of seven people, including the targeting of a printing house.

President Zelensky reiterated the urgent need for air defense systems and modern combat aircraft in Ukraine to counter Russian strikes. He emphasized that such attacks would have been impossible if Ukraine possessed adequate defensive capabilities. Zelensky called on world leaders and nations to provide significant support in strengthening Ukraine's air defense systems, stating that every withheld decision on assistance equates to the loss of Ukrainian lives.

As authorities continue search and rescue operations at the site of the hypermarket, efforts are underway to prevent further casualties and to address the ongoing threat posed by the advancing Russian forces. The international community's response in supporting Ukraine's plea for assistance will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this conflict.