Russian Missile attack on Kharkiv leaves at least six dead

A Russian missile attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine, has killed at least six people and injured over a dozen.
The attack, which struck Ukraine's second-largest city 15 times, has left two people missing.
Ukraine's state railway company reported damage to several facilities and injuries to employees.

A Russian missile attack on Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, has killed at least six people and injured more than a dozen, according to the regional head. Oleg Sinegubov reported that the attack, which struck Ukraine's second-largest city at least 15 times, has also left two people missing.

He advised people in the city to remain in shelters. Ukraine's state railway company reported that the attack had damaged several of its facilities and injured a number of its employees.

Earlier this month, Russian forces launched a renewed offensive in the region, attempting to break through a weakened Ukrainian front line. On Wednesday, Mr. Sinegubov reported that fighting continued near the towns of Pletenivka and Vovchansk, but confirmed that Ukraine's forces remained in control.

"This weakness is not ours, but the world's, which has not dared to deal with terrorists in the way they deserve for three years," he said in a post on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attacks on Kharkiv demonstrate Russia's exploitation of Ukraine's lack of air defenses. Delays in the supply of US-made surface-to-air missile systems resulted from congressional wrangling over a multi-billion-dollar aid package for Ukraine, which was only passed last month.

Mr. Zelensky has repeatedly called on his allies to supply more air defense missiles and modern fighter jets.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fighting in the region has displaced around 14,000 people. Jarno Habicht of the WHO stated that the estimated 189,000 people remaining near the border with Russia face “significant risks due to ongoing fighting.”

President Vladimir Putin claims that capturing Kharkiv is not his intention; instead, he aims to create a "security zone" for Russia's border region. Meanwhile, Ukraine has been launching its attacks on Russian territory.

Belgorod, located just 12km (7 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has faced numerous attacks, including a drone strike on a moving car earlier this week that killed a woman and injured three others. Last week, Mr. Zelensky warned that the Russian ground offensive might be only the "first wave."

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