In pictures: Russia bombs Kharkiv’s Freedom Square and opera house

Russian missiles and rockets have hit the cultural heart of Ukraine’s second largest city. SEE THE PHOTOS. Warning: Graphic

Russian missiles and rockets hit the cultural heart of Ukraine‘s second largest city on Tuesday local time in what officials described as a deadly and “cruel” attack.

An opera house, concert hall and government offices were hit in Freedom Square, in the centre of the northeastern city Kharkiv.

Kyiv’s TV tower was also damaged in an air strike, and at least five people were killed.

According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, two missiles hit and set fire to a building next to the TV tower. The fire has been extinguished.

According to the Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian television channels stopped broadcasting moments after the blast.

“They are trying to cut us off from communications,” the newspaper’s defence reporter Illia Ponomorenko wrote on Twitter.

Footage of the firey explosion around the capital’s 1300ft tower was shared widely on social media.

See images from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine below.

A blast is seen in the TV tower, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv. Picture: Carlos Barria

Pro-Russian separatists, in uniforms without insignia, gather in the separatist-controlled settlement of Mykolaivka (Nikolaevka) and Bugas, in Donetsk region (DPR) of Ukraine. Picture: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The view of military facility which was destroyed by recent shelling in the city of Brovary outside Kyiv. Picture: AFP

An armed man stands on a checkpoint in the city of Brovary outside Kyiv. Picture: Genya Savilov

People placing sand bags next to the local cultural centre building to protect it in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

A 19-year-old Ukrainian soldier named Yevhen lays in bed in a military hospital in Lviv after being injured by a mine in the Luhansk region. Picture: AFP

A young refugee girl from Ukraine waits to enter a bus at the Moldova-Ukrainian border's checkpoint. Picture: AFP

Ukrainians Svetlana (R) and her children Svyatoslav (L) and Ivan (C), are seen in temporary accommodation in a sports hall in Przemysl, in eastern Poland. Picture: AFP

Refugees from Ukraine are seen resting in temporary reception point organised in the main railway station in Przemysl, in eastern Poland. Picture: AFP

A Ukrainian refugee is seen resting in a temporary reception point organised in the main railway station in Przemysl, in eastern Poland. Picture: AFP

Refugees from Ukraine are seen resting in temporary reception point organised in the main railway station in Przemysl, in eastern Poland. Picture AFP

 

German citizen Margarete holds her baby Josephine in the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

A mother tends to her baby that is under medical treatment in the bomb shelter of the paediatric ward in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

Police officers search a man at a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

A view of the cars which were destroyed by recent shelling in Kyiv outskirts. Picture: AFP

A member of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces stands inside a supermarket in the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region, Ukraine. Picture: Maksim Levin

A charred military vehicle is seen on a road near the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region. Picture: Maksim Levin

A charred military vehicle is seen on a road, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, near the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region. Picture: Maksim Levin

Police officers search a man at a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

Servicemen of Ukrainian Military Forces walk in the small town of Severodonetsk, Donetsk Region. Picture: AFP

Smoke billows over the town of Vasylkiv just outside Kyiv. Picture: AFP

Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Picture: AFP

Ukrainians have put up a brave fight against Russia's military might. Picture: AFP

A man walks in front of a destroyed building after a Russian missile attack in the town of Vasylkiv, near Kyiv. Picture: AFP

A Russian Armoured personnel carrier (APC) burning next to unidentified soldier's body during fight with the Ukrainian armed forces in Kharkiv. Picture: AFP

This Maxar satellite image taken and released on February 27, 2022, shows the Southern end of a deployment of Russian ground forces, moving troops and equipment, in Ivankiv, Ukraine. Picture: AFP

A woman stands in front of a destroyed building after a Russian missile attack in the town of Vasylkiv, near Kyiv. Picture: AFP

A Ukrainian service member is seen at a check point in the city of Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Picture: AFP

People arriving from Ukraine via Poznan, Poland, hug as a volunteer holds a placard offering help and assistance to the people who have fled the invaders. Picture: AFP

A small child waves from the window of a building in the small town of Severodonetsk, Donetsk Region. Picture: AFP

A young woman holds a child as they stand outside a train station in Lviv. Picture: AFP

An Ukrainian Territorial Defence fighter takes the automatic grenade launcher from a destroyed Russian infantry mobility vehicle GAZ Tigr after the fight in Kharkiv. Picture: AFP

Originally published as In pictures: Russia bombs Kharkiv’s Freedom Square and opera house