Ten people have been injured in an attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to regional officials. The strikes, which the Ukrainian national police say were carried out by drones, killed six civilians and injured 10 others. Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov reported that the attack hit residential areas, damaging several buildings and vehicles. Photos released by the police show fires in civilian areas, with the strike taking place just after midnight.
Ukraine’s military reported that its air defenses destroyed a significant number of drones and missiles launched by Russia. Despite air raid alerts remaining in effect for Kharkiv and other parts of the country, there were no casualties in a separate attack on Mala Danylivka village. Kharkiv, located near the Russian border, has been under frequent bombardment since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, with attacks intensifying in recent weeks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, expressed concerns about Kharkiv being a potential target for a new Russian offensive in May or June. Ukrainian officials have requested more anti-aircraft defense systems, specifically modern US-made Patriot systems, from their allies. However, US military aid to Ukraine has been facing delays in Congress, with a $60bn funding package currently at a standstill due to opposition from Republicans.