KHARKIV, Ukraine—Russia launched an overnight barrage of drones and missiles at Ukraine Saturday, inflicting damage across the country. Ukrainian officials reported at least 10 people killed, including two children in Kharkiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the Russian attacks on Telegram, stating: “There should be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life.” He urged continued air defence and weapons supplies.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and regional prosecutors estimated that 11 people were killed, with one more than Zelenskiy’s estimate.
Terekhov described the strike as “horrific,” saying rescue crews were still clearing rubble and searching for bodies beneath collapsed buildings. A separate drone attack on a village near the Russian border had also caused casualties; two people died in that blast.
Ukrainian air defense units shot down 453 drones and 19 missiles, but nine missiles and 26 attack drones hit 22 sites, according to the military.
In Kharkiv, Hanna, a resident of the destroyed building, shared her harrowing experience: “When we arrived here 20 minutes after the explosion, I thought I was going to have a stroke. My legs were buckling, and I couldn’t string two words together.”
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial complexes, airfields, and energy facilities in various regions.
In addition to Kharkiv, strikes damaged 15 residential buildings and hit commercial and administrative buildings, power lines, and vehicles. In Kyiv, three people were injured, and the heating was knocked out in over two thousand apartment buildings across four districts. Emergency power cuts have been introduced in seven regions following the attacks.
Ukrenergo reported that port infrastructure in Odesa had suffered fires set to containers with vegetable oil, damaging a grain warehouse.
Zelenskiy emphasized: “Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy our residential and critical infrastructure. Support from partners is needed now more than ever.”