KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — On Saturday, a devastating Russian missile strike hit a five-story residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 10 people, including two children. Sixteen others sustained injuries from the attack. The missile was part of a larger assault where Russian forces reportedly launched 29 missiles and 480 drones targeting various energy facilities in Kyiv and other central Ukrainian regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack and called for an international response to the escalating violence. He noted that despite improvements in air defense systems that downed 19 missiles and 453 drones during the overnight strikes, several missiles still managed to hit various locations across the country, with significant damage reported in at least seven areas.
In Kharkiv, emergency responders were actively searching through the rubble for survivors. Among the deceased were a primary schoolteacher and her son, as well as an eighth-grader who died alongside her mother, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The strike was caused by a new Russian cruise missile known as Izdeliye-30, which has a reported range of 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and utilizes an advanced satellite navigation system resistant to jamming. This new missile signifies a troubling escalation in the technological capabilities being employed against Ukraine.
Additionally, local authorities in the Kyiv region reported damage from debris in three districts. In the southern Odesa region, approximately 80 firefighters were deployed to manage extensive fires resulting from drone strikes on infrastructure. The rail operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, announced that the damage to rail infrastructure led to alterations in several routes in the central-west part of the country.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the attack aimed at Ukrainian military factories, energy facilities, and air bases. Zelenskyy expressed the necessity of a robust international reaction to what he termed "savage strikes against life," emphasizing that Russia's ongoing efforts to undermine Ukraine's residential and critical infrastructure necessitate continued global support. He highlighted the anticipated collaboration with the European Union to enhance protections for Ukrainian citizens.
Since the onset of the invasion over four years ago, Russia has launched tens of thousands of Iranian-designed drones at Ukraine, implementing a rapid domestic production of these drones and employing them in large numbers in recent attacks. In this context, Iran has also retaliated against joint U.S.-Israeli strikes by launching similar drones at countries throughout the Middle East.
In light of the conflict in the Middle East garnering worldwide attention, Zelenskyy revealed that he had received a request from the U.S. for assistance in defending against Iranian drones in that region. He affirmed that Ukrainian experts and equipment would be dispatched to support the effort. This shifting focus has delayed a new round of U.S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine that were set for this week.
