Six civilians were killed and ten injured in an early Saturday Russian strike on Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, according to local officials.
Drones carried out the strike, according to the national police of Ukraine. Images of fires that had started along buildings and on city streets were published.
“As of this morning, the night strike on the Shevchenkivskyi area has resulted in 6 dead and 10 wounded,” stated Mayor Ihor Terekhov of Kharkiv on the messaging app Telegram.
“At least nine high-rise buildings, three dorms, several administrative buildings, a shop, a gas station, a service station, and cars were damaged in the attack,” he said. “The attack affected residential areas.”
The strike had happened shortly after midnight, according to press accounts.
Northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv has been a frequent Russian target, with attacks intensifying in recent weeks. On Wednesday, a drone attack on the city killed four people and badly damaged apartment blocks.
Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to President Voldodymyr Zelenskiy, stated in an interview that was published on Thursday by the news source Politico that he believed Kharkiv to be the most likely target of any upcoming Russian operation in May or June.
A missile attack on a village north of Kharkiv city and an attack on a residential building were reported by Oleh Synehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv. There were no recorded casualties in either instance.
For several hours following the bombings, air raid warnings were still in force for Kharkiv and the majority of the nation, including Kyiv, the capital.
(Reuters)
