A large Russian drone and missile attack has targeted the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine, resulting in at least three deaths and 21 injuries, according to local Ukrainian officials.
This latest barrage from Moscow, part of near-daily widespread attacks, included deadly aerial glide bombs, which have become a prominent feature of the intense Russian offensive during the three-year war.
Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, reported that the attack also damaged 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes. Preliminary data indicates that Russia deployed 48 Shahed drones, two missiles, and four aerial glide bombs in the assault.
The escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks have further diminished hopes for a swift peace agreement between the warring parties. This is particularly true following Kyiv’s recent surprising drone attack on military airfields deep within Russia, which was considered an embarrassment for the Kremlin.
The attack also occurred after US President Donald Trump stated that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, informed him that Moscow would retaliate for Ukraine’s attack on Russian military airfields on Sunday.
It followed comments by Mr. Trump suggesting it might be preferable to allow Ukraine and Russia to “fight for a while” before intervening to negotiate peace. These remarks marked a notable departure from his frequent calls to end the conflict, hinting at a possible shift away from recent peace initiatives.