Ukrainian apartment block struck by Russian drones in Kharkiv; 46 people injured
An Unsettling Night in Kharkiv
In the wee hours of Friday, a drumbeat of drones unleashed chaos over Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. The stark arcs of their flight paths left a trail of destruction, igniting fires and leaving 47 people injured across the city.
Ihor Terekhov, the city's mayor, reported strikes on 12 locations scattered across four central districts, a grim reminder of the city's repeated brush with Russian air attacks. Situated a mere 30 kilometers from Ukraine's northeastern border, Kharkiv has been a relentless target.
Addressing the nation via Telegram, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his disdain for the drone assaults that continue to threaten Ukrainian cities. He lamented the slow response from allies as Ukraine pleads for an urgent upgrade in its air defense capabilities.
"The nightly horrors leave scars, claiming countless lives," Zelenskyy wrote, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger air defenses and swift decisions from Ukraine's international partners. An 11-year-old child was among the injured in this latest attack, joining the increasing roster of victims in Kharkiv's recent ordeal.
Heroic firefighters worked tirelessly through the night, battling flames in the heart of the city. Wrecked facades and smashed windows bore grim witness to the intensity of the assault, while cars burst into flames in streets strewn with shattered glass and debris.
A parallel series of attacks in the east left four more civilians injured in a joint drone and artillery assault on localities near Nikopol. To the south, a village resident tragically lost his life when a drone he was attempting to move from a household detonated.
Russia denies specifically targeting civilians, despite the mounting civilian casualties that have killed thousands since its full-scale invasion in 2022. Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry claimed to have destroyed 10 Ukrainian drones in an hour, a testament to the escalating drone warfare in the region.
Russia's relentless campaign has seen a repeated pattern. In recent months, Kharkiv has been battered by a record 136 strikes throughout April alone. The attacks have taken a heavy toll on the city's infrastructure, leaving deep scars that will take time to heal. With each assault, the city's resolve seems to only grow stronger, even as the victims struggle to cope with the devastation.
- The drone attacks in Nikopol, east of Ukraine, added to the casualties, injuring four more civilians in a joint drone and artillery assault.
- General news reporting on the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine has indicated a pattern of repeated drone attacks, with Kharkiv and Nikopol being prominent targets.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, including the relentless drone attacks, are leaving scars and claiming countless lives, urging stronger air defenses and quick action from international partners.
- Politicians and international observers have been triggering discussions about the use of drones in war-and-conflicts, particularly the recent escalation in Ukraine, with concerns about the increasing civilian casualties.
