Overnight, Russia mounts significant strikes on Kharkiv, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.
Heavy Russian Attacks Rock Ukrainian Cities, Particularly Kharkiv
In a striking turn of events, Russia unleashed a barrage of attacks on the heart of Ukraine, focusing mainly on the second-largest city, Kharkiv. The sudden attacks, which began before dawn on a chilly Saturday, have left two innocent souls and several others injured, according to the authorities.
Kharkiv's Mayor, Igor Terekhov, described the attack as the "most brutal since the war's inception," with a wave of missiles, Iranian-made drones, and guided bombs striking simultaneously. He reported at least 40 explosions within the city during the past hour and a half, with drones still buzzing overhead, posing an ongoing threat.
Two people lost their lives, and 17 more were injured, the Mayor confirmed. A woman miraculously survived, pulled from the debris of a high-rise building. Kharkiv's regional Governor, Oleg Synegubov, reported that the injured included two children.
This brutal aerial bombardment arrives days after Ukraine staged a daring, long-range operation, damaging nuclear-capable military aircraft at Russian airbases. The audacious move prompted Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to threaten revenge.
Ukraine has been tirelessly advocating for an unconditional, immediate 30-day truce, proposing its latest terms during peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. However, Russia, holding approximately one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, has repeatedly rejected such peace offers.
Recent weeks have witnessed an intensification of Russian troop advancements, with the latest truce negotiations failing to halt the three-year war. The city of Kharkiv was no stranger to violence, having sustained injuries earlier, including four children. Similarly, the western city of Lutsk, near the Polish border, suffered fatalities and casualties due to the previous day's strikes.
The frequency and intensity of these attacks have shown a concerning upward trend, with pivotal attacks such as the one on June 1 involving an unprecedented barrage of over 470 drones and seven missiles[1]. May 24 and May 25 witnessed a massive combined drone and missile strike, targeting various Ukrainian cities[3]. As of June 7, Kharkiv, Ternopil, and Lutsk bore the brunt of these relentless Russian attacks[4].
In response to these escalating attacks, the international community has imposed sanctions and provided military aid to Ukraine to bolster its defenses. Ongoing diplomatic efforts aim to facilitate peace talks, although achieving a meaningful reduction in conflict intensity remains challenging given the deep-rooted tensions between the parties involved. It remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the intensifying situation and whether further measures, such as escalated sanctions or increased military support, will be implemented.
The index of war-and-conflicts in general-news has significantly spiked, with Russia's attacks on Kharkiv being a prime example. In these attacks, the use of Iranian-made drones and guided bombs has been reported, as confirmed by Kharkiv's Mayor, Ira Terekhov.
