Russia strikes Ukraine energy and railway infrastructure as Kharkiv missile attack kills civilians
Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine, striking several regions overnight and killing at least 11 people, including two children, in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said.
The Russia missile attack on Kharkiv caused major damage to residential buildings and critical infrastructure, as emergency crews rushed to rescue survivors trapped under debris.
Ballistic Missile Hits Residential Building
According to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, a Russian ballistic missile struck a five-storey residential building, killing 11 civilians, including two children.
The powerful explosion destroyed large parts of the building and left rescue workers searching through the rubble for possible survivors.
One local resident, Hanna, described the shock after seeing the destruction shortly after the strike.
“When we arrived about 20 minutes after the explosion, I felt like I was going to collapse. My legs were shaking and I couldn’t speak,” she said.
She added that she was relieved she was not inside the building with her child when the missile struck.
Ukraine Reports Nationwide Strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the overnight attacks targeted energy facilities and railway infrastructure across the country, continuing Russia’s attempts to damage Ukraine’s critical systems.
Zelenskyy called on international partners to continue military and air defense support for Ukraine.
“Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraine’s residential and critical infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said in a message posted on Telegram.
Air Defense Intercepts Hundreds of Drones
Ukraine’s air force reported that its air defense systems shot down 453 drones and 19 missiles during the attack.
However, officials said nine missiles and 26 attack drones still struck 22 locations, causing damage in several regions.
In a separate incident near the Russian border, Ukrainian prosecutors said two people were killed in a drone strike near a village post office.
Russia Claims Military Targets
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the strikes were aimed at Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, military airfields, and energy infrastructure.
Despite these claims, Ukrainian officials say the attacks caused significant civilian casualties and damage to residential areas.
As rescue operations continue in Kharkiv, emergency teams from multiple regions have been deployed to clear rubble and search for victims, highlighting the ongoing human toll of the Russia–Ukraine war.
Source: Reuters