Relentless Russian Strikes Shatter Kharkiv Amid Rising Tensions

In the early hours of Saturday, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, came under a ferocious attack by Russian forces. The city endured over 40 explosions, leaving at least three people dead and many more injured. Officials described the assault as the most powerful since the full-scale invasion began.

The attack appeared to be in retaliation for Ukraine’s recent drone strike, which disabled over a third of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers. Moscow responded with two consecutive days of large-scale airstrikes across Ukraine, intensifying the already devastating conflict.

Mayor Igor Terekhov labeled the situation in Kharkiv as “outright terror,” stating that missiles, drones, and guided aerial bombs were used simultaneously. Residential areas were targeted, including an apartment block in the Osnovyanskyi district where two people lost their lives in a massive fire.

In the Kyivskyi district, another person was killed when a missile destroyed a home. Ukrainian emergency services were seen rescuing survivors from rubble and extinguishing flames. Among those injured were a teenage girl and a six-week-old baby who suffered severe stress from the attacks.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned the assault and called on the international community to pressure Moscow. The Kharkiv region prosecutor’s office reported that, in addition to civilian deaths, vital infrastructure like a music school and an administrative building sustained damage.

Survivors shared their horrifying experiences. One resident, Ruslana Sheveleva, said her neighbor’s son was killed instantly, while his mother was pulled from debris. Another woman, Iryna Ivanenko, described her daughter trapped under a heavy slab until firefighters arrived to save her.

Amid this turmoil, Russia accused Ukraine of postponing a scheduled prisoner exchange and the handover of fallen soldiers. Kremlin envoy Vladimir Medinsky stated Ukraine’s team failed to appear, delaying the process indefinitely. He claimed Russia had already delivered over 1,200 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukrainian officials denied those assertions, calling them false. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force announced the downing of a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in the Kursk region. Though Russia did not officially comment, a military blogger confirmed the jet’s loss and the rescue of its pilot.