The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has once again been targeted by Russian forces, this time with an attack that left at least 21 people injured. The strikes, which hit high-rise apartment buildings late on Saturday, mark the second consecutive night of attacks on the city.
This latest round of violence follows a Friday night attack that left 15 people wounded, including children as young as 10 and 12. Ukrainian officials have reported that both attacks employed KAB-type aerial glide bombs, a Soviet-era weapon that has been used extensively in eastern Ukraine throughout the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media to express his outrage, stating, “Last night, Russia struck Kharkiv again, this time with aerial bombs targeting an ordinary residential building. As a result, 21 people were injured, including an eight-year-old child and two 17-year-olds.” Regional leader Oleg Synegubov confirmed that two individuals were in critical condition and that dozens of residents were asleep when the building was struck.
Kharkiv, once home to 1.4 million residents, has faced relentless bombing campaigns throughout the year. The city’s mayor, Igor Terekhov, emphasized the civilian nature of the attack, stating at the scene, “As you can see, there are no military here. Every day and every night Kharkiv suffers the hits.”
Adding to the intensity of the conflict, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 80 Shahed drones and two missiles at Ukraine overnight into Sunday. Ukrainian air defense managed to shoot down 71 drones, while another six were lost due to electronic warfare countermeasures.
In response to the relentless attacks, Zelensky has renewed his call for Western allies to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons. He maintains that these weapons are crucial for striking deeper into Russian territory and protecting Ukrainian lives. Zelensky is scheduled to travel to the United States in the coming days, aiming to convince the West to authorize the use of these long-range weapons.
“We need to strengthen our capabilities to better protect lives and ensure safety. Ukraine needs full long-range capabilities,” he emphasized. “We are working to convince our partners of this. We will continue these discussions next week.”
While in Washington, Zelensky is set to meet with President Joe Biden, as well as both US presidential hopefuls, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, to discuss Ukraine’s urgent need for advanced weaponry in the face of Russia’s continued aggression.
