Putin is a monster like Hitler, we must beat him say Kharkiv residents as Russia targets city after Zelensky’s visit

VLADIMIR Putin yesterday intensified his shelling of Kharkiv after President Zelensky visited last week.

The Sun arrived in Ukraine’s second city to be greeted by the sound of explosions as thick smoke hung in the air.

A local dubbed Putin a “war criminal” and said: “We must beat this monster.”

Residents believe the latest cowardly Russian strikes are a direct response to Mr Zelensky’s surprise trip, revealed to the world on Sunday.

The city was a major target in the first months of the invasion but, after the Russians were beaten back, had become relatively peaceful.

With Russia starting to make more ground in the eastern Donbas region as they seek full occupation there, resident in Kharkiv in the north-east fear the city just 30 miles from the Russian border will be next on Putin’s hit list.

There are badly damaged buildings and homes across the city and loud bangs from the conflict can be heard often during the day and night.

A building where local councillors are based has been destroyed. 

Russian forces launched a huge attack at the start of May on Kharkiv, but heroic resistance from Ukrainian troops meant by the second week they had been pushed back to the border.

Locals could yesterday be seen putting Ukrainian flags back up but know future attacks are highly likely.

One local told The Sun: “These tactics are evil. They came at us so hard and we survived.

“Then we had weeks of quiet and we thought they’d left us alone. We were relieved. But we’re dealing with a war criminal, a monster. He’s back and now we’ve got rockets all the time — it’s got worse since Zelensky was here.

“It’s constant shelling. It’s chilling. It’s like Hitler. The skies are full of the sounds of attacks. We must be brave and we must beat this monster.” President Zelensky left Kyiv for the first time since the start of the war to visit on Sunday and sent a defiant message. The city’s chief prosecutor has spoken of his fears that Russia will return and try to take control of the city again.

Olexandr Filchakov said his team was probing more than 1,000 war crimes in the region, including murders and rapes.

On Friday, a baby and a man were killed in a blast in the city. Another attack days before killed at least nine and injured 17.

Mr Filchakov, who invited The Sun to a meeting to discuss the situation, said: “They are trying to come back. They are trying to counter attack. Every day there is shelling of the city and the region.

“We will find those responsible and make sure they are answerable and punished for their crimes. We will get justice. We will build up the evidence and put them before a judge.”

And Mr Filchakov  said his team was also probing 72 alleged corrupt locals, including police officers and a judge, accused of giving information to Russia.

Meanwhile, he begged other countries to send more weapons like Britain. He said: “UK support has been brilliant. But we need more and more countries to follow Britain.”

President Zelensky was pictured in a bullet-proof vest surveying ruins in Kharkiv. He told soldiers, “I want to thank each of you for your service.”

Later, he sacked the local security chief for “not defending” the city.