KYIV: At least 30 people, including three children, were injured in a Russian-guided bomb attack on a high-rise residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine on Sunday, according to local officials. The strike caused significant damage to the multi-storey building, resulting in a fire and extensive structural damage between the 9th and 12th floors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the attack through his Telegram account, posting harrowing images of smoke and flames erupting from the building, with all windows blown out. “The rescue operation in Kharkiv continues. A Russian air strike has hit an ordinary residential building, causing a fire and debris,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that civilian infrastructure in the city was also impacted by the attack.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been a frequent target of Russian military assaults due to its proximity to the Russian border. The city is regularly subjected to bombings, missile attacks, and drone strikes.
Zelenskyy called on the international community to assist Ukraine in defending itself against such attacks, emphasizing the need for more powerful Western-supplied weapons to counteract the Russian threat effectively.
The conflict has seen continued violence in other regions of Ukraine as well. In the eastern city of Pokrovsk, one person was killed by Russian shelling on Sunday. Local authorities reported that Russian strikes have severely damaged infrastructure, including cutting off water and electricity to many residents. Over 20,000 people have fled the city since August due to the intensified attacks.
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As Moscow’s troops advance towards Pokrovsk, reportedly coming within 10 kilometres (6 miles) of its eastern outskirts, the city remains a strategic target due to its critical logistics role. Russian forces have previously damaged overpasses in the city, further complicating evacuation and supply efforts.
Meanwhile, Western nations are debating how to increase support for Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making empty threats in response to discussions about allowing Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles.
The debate intensified as US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met at the White House to consider easing restrictions on Kyiv’s use of advanced weaponry.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has been advocating for the use of British Storm Shadow missiles and US-made ATACMS missiles to strike targets deeper inside Russia, hoping these measures will disrupt Russian military operations and provide a strategic advantage.
On Saturday, a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine occurred, facilitated by the UAE. Both nations exchanged 103 prisoners of war each, with the Ukrainian soldiers recently captured during Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region.
President Vladimir Putin has warned that allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets within Russia could escalate the conflict to a broader war involving NATO. However, Western leaders and analysts, including US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, have described these warnings as bluster and emphasized the need for increased support to Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden, who is set to meet with Zelenskyy later this month at the UN General Assembly, has pledged to use the remaining months of his term to bolster Ukraine’s position.
