A Russian missile struck a five-storey residential building in Kharkiv on Saturday, killing at least 10 people, including two children, and injuring 16 others, officials reported.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault and urged an international response. He noted that Russia launched 29 missiles and 480 drones overnight, targeting energy facilities in Kyiv and other central regions, with damage reported in at least seven locations.
Preliminary data indicated that air defense systems intercepted 19 missiles and 453 drones, although strikes from 9 missiles and 26 drones impacted 22 sites.
In Kharkiv, emergency workers searched through rubble for survivors. Among the deceased was a primary schoolteacher and her second-grade son, along with an eighth-grader who died with her mother, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
The regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that the building was hit by Russia’s new Izdeliye-30 cruise missile, a subsonic air-launched weapon with a range of 1,500 kilometers, equipped with advanced satellite navigation resistant to jamming.
In the Kyiv region, local authorities reported damage from debris across three districts. In Odesa, 80 firefighters battled massive fires at infrastructure facilities following a drone attack. Ukraine’s state rail operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, announced that damage to rail infrastructure necessitated route changes in the center-west.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that the overnight strike aimed at Ukrainian military factories, energy facilities, and air bases.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for partners to respond to these brutal attacks. He stated that Russia continues its efforts to destroy Ukraine’s residential and critical infrastructure, urging ongoing support and collaboration with the European Union for enhanced protection. He expressed gratitude to those aiding in strengthening Ukraine’s defenses.
Since the invasion over four years ago, Russia has launched tens of thousands of Iranian-designed drones, ramping up domestic production and deploying hundreds in single nights—outpacing some months in 2024.
In response to U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iran has retaliated by launching Shahed drones at Middle Eastern nations.
Zelenskyy confirmed receiving a U.S. request for support against Iranian drones in the Middle East, ordering equipment and Ukrainian experts to assist.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has diverted international focus from Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, leading to the postponement of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine scheduled for this week.
