An elderly couple from a village on the banks of the Dnipro River rescued from under the rubble following a Russian strike

An elderly couple was rescued from under the rubble of their home after it was shelled by the Russian military in the Kharkiv region, the National Police reported.

Video grab

Police did not specify the exact timing of the shelling but stated that Russian forces targeted Zolota Balka with artillery and drones that morning. Situated on the banks of the Dnipro River, the village is frequently struck from the occupied side with various weaponry, resulting in deaths and injuries among local residents.

The village head informed police officers about the 72-year-old husband and wife. The senior pair was buried under the rubble of their home; they miraculously survived but required immediate medical attention. The man sustained a wound, while the woman was disoriented due to a concussion.

There was a threat of a “double-tap” strike on the police officers. Ultimately, it didn’t occur, and both survivors are now under medical supervision.

Previously, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that five civilians were wounded as a result of Russian shelling in the Kharkiv Oblast during the night of February 16, 2026.  

Near the front lines, instances of elderly people being left without medical assistance or food are not uncommon, with some tragically dying in isolation.