A strike attributed to Russia in Kharkiv, Ukraine‘s second-largest city, resulted in the deaths of six civilians and injuries to ten others in the early hours of Saturday, as reported by regional officials.
Ukraine’s national police attributed the attack to drones and shared images of fires that erupted on city streets and near buildings.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov provided updates via the Telegram messaging app, confirming casualties and damage inflicted on residential areas, including nine high-rise buildings, three dormitories, administrative buildings, a shop, a petrol station, a service station, and vehicles.
The strike occurred shortly after midnight, with Ukraine’s military claiming on Facebook that its air defenses intercepted 28 out of 32 drones and three out of six missiles launched by Russia.
Kharkiv, situated in Ukraine’s northeast, has frequently been targeted by Russia, with recent attacks escalating. Just days before, a drone attack killed four people and caused extensive damage to apartment blocks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, expressed concerns about Kharkiv being a probable target for a new Russian offensive in May or June.
Governor Oleh Synehubov of Kharkiv region reported a strike on a residential building and a missile attack on a village north of the city, with no casualties reported in these incidents.
Air raid alerts remained active for Kharkiv and much of the country, including the capital, Kyiv, for several hours after the strikes.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with Kharkiv increasingly becoming a focal point in the conflict. International condemnation followed the attack, with calls for de-escalation and renewed efforts for diplomatic resolution.
The tragic loss of civilian lives highlights the urgency of finding a peaceful solution to the conflict plaguing the region.
