Investigators of Ukraine's SBU (State Security Service) in Kharkiv region, under the procedural leadership of the regional prosecutor's office, have initiated a pretrial investigation into the shelling of Merefa by Russian servicemen, as a result of which 15 people were killed and 25 were injured.

"According to the investigation, on March 17, 2022, at about 3:30 am, Russian servicemen fired artillery at the city of Merefa, Kharkiv region, as a result of which a comprehensive school and a city center of culture were destroyed. Some 15 people were killed and 25 people injured, 10 of who are in serious condition. The debris clearing continues," the press service of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office says.

Criminal proceedings were opened under Part 2 of Article 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with premeditated murder) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.