KHARKIV, Ukraine — At least three people were killed in a series of Russian drone and missile strikes that targeted the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack marks the latest escalation in Russia’s ongoing assault on urban centers across Ukraine’s embattled east.
The strikes, which occurred overnight and into the early morning hours, reportedly struck both residential and infrastructure sites in and around Kharkiv. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed the fatalities and said several others were injured, including civilians. Emergency crews are continuing search-and-rescue efforts as damage assessments unfold.
“This was a deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure,” Syniehubov stated in a Telegram post. “Russia continues its campaign of terror against the people of Ukraine. Kharkiv remains one of the primary targets due to its strategic and symbolic importance.”
Local authorities reported that the attack involved a combination of Iranian-made Shahed drones and S-300 missiles, a tactic Russian forces have used repeatedly to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. Multiple residential buildings sustained heavy damage, and power outages were reported in some neighborhoods.
The air raid sirens began sounding late in the evening, prompting residents to seek shelter in underground metro stations and basements. Despite Ukraine’s growing success in intercepting drone attacks, the scale and intensity of this assault overwhelmed defenses in several zones of the city.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and located just 40 kilometers from the Russian border, has been a constant target since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Although Ukrainian forces pushed Russian troops out of the immediate vicinity in a 2022 counteroffensive, missile and drone strikes have continued with grim regularity.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it another act of brutality that underscores the need for stronger international support and advanced air defense systems. “Every life lost is a reminder of what’s at stake,” Zelenskyy said. “We urgently need more protective systems to defend our people from this terror.”
The strikes come as fighting intensifies along Ukraine’s eastern front, particularly near Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russian troops have been attempting to regain momentum after months of attritional warfare. Analysts suggest the Kharkiv attack may also be part of a psychological strategy aimed at destabilizing urban life and undermining civilian morale.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations operating in Kharkiv are mobilizing resources to support displaced families and restore essential services in the aftermath of the strikes. International observers continue to document potential war crimes, as civilian infrastructure remains under threat in violation of international law.
With the war now stretching into its third year, Ukrainian officials are reiterating their appeals for Western military aid, especially long-range precision weapons and advanced air defense systems that could help prevent further casualties from aerial assaults.
Swifteradio.com
