Ukraininan officials reported that at least 15 people were confirmed dead and 11 others were injured after a fire started in the Zolotoye Vremya (Golden Hour) private care home for the elderly in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Currently, 5 of the injured are being treated at a local hospital. Local firefighters and Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova reported that it took some 50 firefighters over one hour to put out the fire, which may have started on the second floor due to “careless handling of electric heaters”. 33 people were in the building when the fire stared.

Local Ukrainian media reported that the Kharkiv region's social protection department chief said that the Zolotoye Vremya had not been registered with government agencies as a residential home for the elderly. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov announced that police are currently questioning the facility's manager alongside 3 employees, and are also considering detaining the owner of the unregistered care home for questioning.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhals has expressed his condolences to the victims and families of those lost in the fire called an emergency government meeting. City authorities have declared that Friday January 22nd will be a day of mourning for those who perished in the fire. Additionally, a special government commission is currently being set up to investigate the cause of the fire and help prevent future incidents.

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