A series of Russian strikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv resulted in the deaths of at least six people, including a 14-year-old girl at a playground, and injured dozens more. The attack, which occurred on Friday, has heightened calls for increased support from Ukraine’s Western allies, particularly in the form of long-range weapons to counter Russian air power.
According to Kharkiv region Governor Oleg Synegubov, the strikes hit a 12-story apartment building, causing a fire and the deaths of three people. The playground attack claimed the life of one child, and approximately 20 of the injured were in critical condition, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy described the attack as a deliberate bombing using a guided bomb, urging allies to take “strong decisions” to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense systems.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been a persistent target of Russian attacks since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022. While the intensity of bombing had decreased in recent weeks, possibly due to Ukrainian forces’ incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, the city remains vulnerable.
In response to the latest attack, Zelenskyy reiterated his plea for Western allies to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to target Russian military air bases. He argued that the attack would have been prevented if Ukraine had the capacity to strike Russian aircraft at their bases, stating, “There is no rational reason to restrict Ukraine’s defences.”
The devastation of the apartment block was evident in the aftermath, with one end engulfed in black smoke and several upper floors consumed by flames. Cars parked outside were gutted by fire, and the body of one victim was found under a carpet on the ground. Residents, some covered in blood, sat stunned as medics tended to their injuries.
Meanwhile, top Ukrainian officials, including Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, embarked on a visit to Washington on Friday, with the aim of seeking further support from the United States. Andriy Yermak, the president’s chief of staff, announced on Telegram, “We are working in Washington… We are grateful to our partners for their support.”
According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack involved five aerial guided bombs launched from planes in Russia’s Belgorod region. These weapons, known as “glide bombs,” are equipped with a navigation system that guides them to their targets, making them difficult to intercept. Their use in recent months has significantly increased devastation in eastern Ukraine.
Russia has denied any intentional targeting of civilians. However, the full-scale invasion launched in 2022 has resulted in the deaths and injuries of thousands of people. Ukraine maintains that the most effective way to counter such strikes is to target Russian planes, rather than the bombs themselves.
In other developments, Forbes Ukraine reported that Vadym Kudrytskyi, head of Ukraine’s power grid operator Ukrenergo, is set to be dismissed. Sources indicate that Kudrytskyi refused to resign after the decision was made during a meeting with President Zelenskyy. The reasons for his dismissal remain unclear.
