A targeted drone assault lasting nine minutes by Russia on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, resulted in six fatalities and injuries to 64 people, including nine children, according to Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.
This nighttime strike followed Russia’s two most significant air attacks on Ukraine this week, part of a broader escalation that Moscow claims is in retaliation for recent Ukrainian offensives within Russian territory.
In addition, two regions in southern Ukraine, Mykolaiv and Kherson, experienced power outages on Wednesday following assaults by Russian forces on energy infrastructure, as reported by the regional governors.
Kharkiv, situated in northeastern Ukraine, successfully resisted Russia’s initial assault at the onset of the war but has since faced a constant barrage of drone, missile, and precision airstrike attacks.
Local prosecutors reported via the Telegram messaging app that the death toll had climbed to six as rescue teams recovered bodies from the debris, with three individuals still presumed trapped.
The sustained barrage of 17 drones in Kharkiv ignited fires in 15 units of a five-story apartment complex and caused additional destruction in the city near the Russian border, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
“Direct hits occurred on residential buildings, private properties, playgrounds, and public transport facilities,” Terekhov stated on Telegram.
President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked on Telegram, “Each new day reveals fresh despicable attacks from Russia. With every strike against civilian life, it becomes evident that international pressure is insufficient.”
Witnesses from Reuters reported emergency responders assisting individuals from damaged structures and providing medical assistance, while firefighters fought blazes in the darkness.
Among the injured were a 2-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy who required hospitalization, as stated by Oleh Sinehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region via Telegram.
The Ukrainian military reported that, during this period, Russia launched 85 drones, with 40 being intercepted.
Power Outages
In the Kherson region, utility workers are making efforts to restore electricity after Russian forces attacked what Governor Oleksandr Prokudin described as “a vital energy facility.”
“At this time, it is impossible to estimate how long restoration will take. Residents should be prepared for prolonged outages,” he communicated via Telegram.
Governor Vitaliy Kim of the neighboring Mykolaiv region noted that his area is also undergoing emergency power shutdowns, but services would be reestablished shortly.
Kherson directly borders a conflict zone and faces frequent drone, missile, and artillery strikes, while Mykolaiv primarily contends with missile and drone attacks.
There has been no immediate response from Russia regarding these latest overnight strikes.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the ongoing conflict that Russia initiated against its smaller neighbor in February 2022. However, thousands of civilian casualties, overwhelmingly Ukrainian, have been reported.
