KHARKIV, Ukraine — At least 10 people were killed, including two children, after Russian missiles and drones struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, officials said, in one of the deadliest attacks on the city in recent weeks.
The overnight assault was part of a large-scale aerial barrage launched by Russia across Ukraine, involving around 29 missiles and nearly 480 drones, according to Ukrainian authorities. While air defense systems intercepted many of the incoming weapons, several missiles and drones still hit multiple targets, including residential areas and infrastructure.
In Kharkiv, a missile slammed into a five-story residential building, causing a massive explosion that trapped residents beneath the rubble. Emergency crews rushed to the scene to search for survivors and recover bodies as smoke and flames engulfed the damaged structure.
Local officials reported that at least 16 people were injured, while nearby buildings, vehicles, and power lines were also damaged. Rescue teams continued working through the debris hours after the strike, fearing that more victims could still be trapped under collapsed sections of the building.
The attack on Kharkiv was part of a broader wave of strikes targeting energy, railway, and port infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities reported damage to rail facilities and energy systems, leading to power disruptions and emergency electricity restrictions in several regions.
Fires also broke out at industrial and port facilities in southern Ukraine, including the Odesa region, after drones struck storage areas and warehouses.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it a “savage strike against civilian life.” He urged Ukraine’s international partners to strengthen military support, particularly in air-defense systems to protect cities from missile and drone attacks.
Zelensky said Russia continues attempts to damage both residential areas and critical infrastructure, stressing that global assistance remains essential as the war enters another difficult phase.
The strike highlights the continuing intensity of the war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its fourth year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Kharkiv — Ukraine’s second-largest city and located near the Russian border — has been repeatedly targeted by missile and drone attacks throughout the conflict.
Rescue operations in Kharkiv were still ongoing as authorities assessed the full extent of the damage and searched for possible survivors under the rubble.