Russian Strikes Kill 3, Wound 22 in Kharkiv Assault/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A massive overnight Russian drone and missile barrage struck Kharkiv, Ukraine, killing three and injuring 22. The attack, part of a broader escalation, damaged homes and buildings, as peace prospects between Russia and Ukraine grow dimmer.
Kharkiv Missile Attack Quick Looks
- Russia launched 215 drones and missiles in a widescale attack overnight.
- Three people were killed, 22 injured in Kharkiv, officials confirmed.
- 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes were damaged, said Kharkiv’s mayor.
- Air defenses neutralized 87 drones and 7 missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.
- Children were among the wounded, including a baby and a teenage girl.
- Russian Defense Ministry claimed it targeted military assets, not civilians.
- Attacks also struck Donetsk, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk, intensifying the pressure on Ukraine.
- Peace negotiations remain stalled, with both sides refusing to shift positions.
- Trump suggests letting war continue “for a while” before resuming talks.
Deep Look: Kharkiv Reels as Russian Missiles and Drones Devastate City, Killing Three
KYIV, Ukraine — A devastating overnight attack by Russian forces struck the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, killing at least three people and wounding 22 others, Ukrainian officials said Saturday. The coordinated barrage included aerial glide bombs, missiles, and suicide drones, in what local officials called the most intense assault on the city since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Kharkiv’s Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the destruction as “the most powerful attack” the city has endured. Russian weapons damaged 18 apartment blocks and 13 private homes, with residents jolted awake by explosions in the early morning hours.
The strike came amid a broader Russian offensive that blanketed multiple regions across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting 87 drones and seven missiles out of an estimated 215 projectiles launched by Russia overnight.
Children Among the Victims
In addition to the fatalities, officials confirmed that two children — a baby boy and a 14-year-old girl — were among the injured. Oleh Syniehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said the strikes hit two key districts using a mix of long-range missiles, glide bombs, and dozens of drones.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, the provinces of Donetsk, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk also sustained damage from the attack. In Kherson, Russian shelling claimed the lives of a couple in their 50s, further illustrating the widespread reach of the latest assault.
Russian Military Justifies the Strike
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the operation, claiming it had targeted Ukrainian military facilities, such as ammunition depots, drone workshops, and weapons repair centers. However, no mention was made regarding civilian casualties or infrastructure damage in Kharkiv.
Meanwhile, Russia reported intercepting 36 Ukrainian drones overnight, with debris injuring two civilians near Moscow, according to local Governor Andrei Vorobyov.
Growing Toll and Fading Peace Prospects
On Friday, similar attacks across six Ukrainian territories left at least six people dead and injured nearly 80 others. That wave of violence included the deaths of three emergency responders in Kyiv, a civilian in Lutsk, and two individuals in Chernihiv.
The surge in hostilities has further undermined diplomatic efforts. Although a U.S.-led peace initiative has prompted two rounds of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, those negotiations have failed to yield substantive progress.
Ukrainian officials have proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and a direct meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, but the Kremlin has rebuffed these overtures and remained firm in its demands.
Trump’s Comments Signal Shift in Strategy
Adding to the tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump said this week that Putin informed him of Russia’s intent to retaliate for Ukraine’s recent drone attacks on Russian airfields. The strikes humiliated Moscow by breaching its deep-air defenses.
Trump, who previously urged both sides to end the war, now appears to favor letting the conflict “play out” before renewed peace efforts begin. His statement — “Maybe it’s better to let them fight for a while” — marks a notable change in his public stance on resolving the war.
For Ukrainians, the intensifying barrage of attacks signals more difficult days ahead, with peace appearing ever more elusive and the battlefield once again dominating the headlines.
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