Ukraine reported on Thursday that at least 13 people were injured, including two children, following a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed the strike, stating that the attack took place late Wednesday and lasted almost an hour.
“The enemy launched a massive drone strike on Kharkiv. Thirteen people were injured, including two children,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said in a statement on Telegram, noting that an investigation into the incident has been launched.
The strike hit civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv’s Slobidskyi and Kyivskyi districts, causing significant damage. According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, the attack sparked four fires across the city, with the largest fire covering an area of 2,500 square meters. The city, located about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the Russian border, experienced extensive damage.
A total of 117 personnel and 27 units of equipment from the State Emergency Service were deployed to extinguish the fires and address the aftermath of the strike.
In addition to the drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s Air Force reported successfully downing 42 out of 86 Russian drones launched over the southern, northern, and central regions of the country.
In reaction to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed strong condemnation, calling for continued pressure on Russia. Speaking on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy stated, “Against this backdrop, speaking about easing pressure on Russia, lifting sanctions, and so on, is definitely inappropriate and unhelpful.” He further accused Moscow of prolonging the conflict and called for diplomatic measures to be taken more urgently in order to “save lives.”
Meanwhile, the United States announced agreements with both Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and a 30-day halt to strikes on each other’s energy facilities, following talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Despite the agreement, Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged accusations of breaching the pause on energy strikes. Russia has not yet commented on the latest drone attack on Kharkiv.
