On Saturday, a significant wave of Russian drone and missile assaults struck the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, resulting in at least three fatalities and injuring 21 others, according to local authorities.
The recent barrage included the air glide bomb, a notable feature of the continued Russian aggression in this prolonged conflict.
In recent weeks, the intensity of Russia’s strikes on Ukraine has drawn attention, especially as Kyiv managed to conduct a striking drone attack on Russian military airfields—an embarrassing moment for the Kremlin.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that overnight, 215 missiles and drones were launched from Russia, with Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepting 87 drones and seven missiles.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sibikh noted that other regions of Ukraine, including Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Ternopil, also came under attack.
“To end the violence and destruction from Russia, we need to increase pressure on Moscow while strengthening Ukraine,” he urged.
Kharkiv’s Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the attack as the “most powerful” on the city since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, causing damage to 18 apartments and 13 private properties.
Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov stated that the city endured strikes from three missiles, five air glide bombs, and 48 drones across two districts. Among the injured were a month-and-a-half-old boy and a 14-year-old girl.
The assault on Kharkiv occurred just a day after Russia launched one of its most severe missile and drone offensives against Ukraine, targeting six regions, which left at least six dead and around 80 injured.
This earlier attack included the deaths of three emergency responders from Kyiv, alongside one fatality in Lutsk and two in Chernihiv.
US President Donald Trump mentioned this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated Moscow would retaliate against Ukraine’s recent attacks on its airfields.
Interestingly, Trump suggested that perhaps it might be wiser for the two nations to “fight for a while” before moving towards peace talks, a somewhat unexpected stance compared to his usual calls for an end to the conflict, hinting at a potential shift in his approach.
