Russian rockets struck residential buildings in Kharkiv early on Saturday, killing at least seven people and injuring 11 others, Ukrainian officials reported. This marks the latest attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine condemned the ongoing Russian terror in Kharkiv and called for stronger air defense in the region with the assistance of international partners.
Ukraine’s air defenses have been strained since the halt of American military support over six months ago. Future aid remains uncertain due to Republican opposition in Congress to a proposed $60 billion aid package.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated a potential vote on military aid for Ukraine, but may link the issue to unrelated matters like domestic energy policies, complicating the approval process.
Russia has increased its arsenal of missiles, guided bombs, and attack drones, intensifying its attacks across Ukraine.
Mr. Zelensky revealed that Russian forces have used a significant number of missiles, drones, and bombs in March alone, targeting Ukraine.
Kharkiv, with a population second only to Kyiv, has been heavily impacted by Russian attacks, including the deployment of powerful guided bombs for the first time.
The use of these modified bombs poses a new and dangerous threat to Ukraine, with limited defense capabilities against them.
Glide bombs, powerful gravity bombs with added wings and guidance systems, have been used by Russia to target Ukrainian positions, causing extensive destruction in Kharkiv.
The city has suffered over 20,000 destroyed buildings since the start of the full-scale invasion, with estimated rebuilding costs exceeding $10 billion.
Kharkiv’s critical energy infrastructure has been decimated, leaving over 150,000 residents homeless, according to the city’s mayor.
Recent attacks have targeted residential areas with missiles and resulted in significant damage to buildings and civilian facilities.
Despite the relentless attacks, Kharkiv has not seen a mass exodus, as Russia leverages air superiority to advance strategically on the front lines.
Ukraine has launched drone assaults on Russian airfields in response, causing damage to military aircraft and disrupting Russian air operations.
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