Russian drone attack on Kharkiv kills two, injures dozens

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, faced a barrage of Russian drone strikes late Saturday, targeting a military hospital, a shopping centre, apartment blocks, and other civilian and commercial locations. The attacks left at least two people dead and injured at least 25 others, according to local officials and the Ukrainian military.

“According to preliminary information, there were injuries among the servicemen undergoing treatment in the medical centre,” stated the General Staff of the Ukrainian military on the Telegram messaging app.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that one of the deceased was recovered from under the rubble. He also noted that the total number of injured had reached 27. Among the structures hit was an office building, where one of the drones triggered a fire, adding to the devastation.

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed that 25 people had sustained injuries, while prosecutors quoted by the public broadcaster Suspilne suggested the number could be as high as 30. Suspilne shared images of rescue workers in protective gear sifting through the wreckage, with twisted metal and scattered construction materials littering the area.

Kharkiv, located in northeastern Ukraine, successfully resisted Russian capture during the early weeks of Moscow’s invasion in February 2022. However, as Russian forces redirected their efforts towards securing larger portions of eastern Ukraine, the city has remained a consistent target of air assaults.