Russia launched overnight drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, leaving many people dead and injured.
A ballistic missile strike hit a five-story residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, killing 10, including two children, and injuring 16 more.
What do we realize about Russia strikes on Kharkiv?
Rescuers were sifting through the rubble on Saturday, searching for survivors. Several people were believed to be still trapped under the debris.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia used 29 missiles, almost half of them ballistic, and 480 drones, most of them Iranian-designed Shaheds, during its overnight attack.
“There must be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life,” Zelenskyy said on X. “Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraine’s residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support must continue.”
Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov said the wounded included two boys, aged six and 11, and a 17-year-old girl. Oleh Syniehubov, Kharkiv regional governor, said two children were also among those killed.
The regional governor added that seven residential apartment blocks, commercial and administrative buildings, electricity distribution lines and cars were also damaged in Kharkiv by the Russian strikes.
Russian strikes hit other locations across Ukraine
Zelenskyy said that besides Kharkiv, Russian strikes also targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv, the Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi regions, and the railway in the Zhytomyr region.
An air raid alert was triggered during the night across Ukraine, while neighboring Poland scrambled military aircraft to protect its airspace in border regions as a precaution to the attacks.
Preliminary data suggested Ukrainian air defense systems downed 19 missiles and 453 drones.
“Damage has been reported in the Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, and Cherkasy regions,” Zelenskyy said, adding that “relevant services are working wherever necessary.”
In the eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, one person was killed, while three more were wounded in the capital Kyiv, according to local authorities.
A 24-year-old man died in his car in the Sumy region after it was struck by a Russian drone, local officials said.
Injuries were also reported in drone attacks in Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine and in Chuhuiv, in the Kharkiv region.
The strikes also damaged the rail infrastructure, forcing changes to a number of routes in the center-west of the country, according to Ukraine’s state rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia.
Peace negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have stalled amid the war that broke out in the Middle East a week ago after the US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Kharkiv?
A ballistic missile strike hit a five-story residential building, killing 10 people, including two children, and injuring 16 more.
How many missiles and drones did Russia use?
Russia used 29 missiles, almost half of them ballistic, and 480 drones, most of them Iranian-designed Shaheds.
Where else were strikes reported?
Strikes were also reported in Kyiv, the Khmelnytskyi and Chernivtsi regions, the Zhytomyr region, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, and Cherkasy.
As the conflict continues, what role will international support play in Ukraine’s ability to respond to these ongoing attacks?
