The latest Russian drone strike on Kharkiv has killed four people and injured nearly 60, prompting calls for increased international support for Ukraine. Multiple buildings were damaged, with Ukrainian leaders condemning the attacks as acts of terrorism and further complicating ongoing prisoner swap negotiations.
Russia Launches Major Drone Assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine's Second Largest City
Russia Launches Major Drone Assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine's Second Largest City
A significant drone strike in Kharkiv has resulted in casualties as Russia escalates its attacks on Ukrainian cities.
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Russian forces have carried out a massive drone and missile strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. According to local authorities, the attack resulted in four fatalities and has left close to 60 individuals injured, including vulnerable groups such as children. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that 48 drones, two missiles, and four glide bombs targeted the area, damaging 18 residential buildings and injuring a baby and a 14-year-old girl.
On Saturday, the assault continued with additional glide bombs, which led to more casualties. This assault forms part of a broader retaliation by Russia, which Moscow justifies as a response to recent Ukrainian attacks on its railway infrastructure and air bases.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, categorizing them as "pure terrorism" that serves no military purpose. He criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for exploiting the conflict, and urged for increased pressure on Moscow from Ukraine’s allies to bolster support against these attacks.
The severity of the violence is underscored by a prior wave of assaults that left six dead and 80 wounded across Ukraine, revealing a pattern of escalating aggression from Russian forces. Amid these crises, discussions surrounding a prisoner exchange have also taken a conflicting turn. Russian negotiators claim that Ukraine has postponed the previously agreed exchange of sick and severely wounded prisoners, a claim met with angry denials from Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine's government asserts that preparations for the prisoner swaps were ongoing and that Russia's actions have strayed from their agreed parameters. Discontent over these negotiations follows Russia’s recent air strikes, which stemmed from Ukraine's successful drone operation targeting key military installations within Russian territory.
As both sides grapple with military tactics and diplomatic standpoints, the humanitarian cost of this conflict continues to rise. Despite international efforts, a ceasefire remains elusive, with the prospects of peace talks clouded by deep-seated divisions between the warring nations.
