Russian missiles struck Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, in the northeast, killing at least seven civilians early Thursday, officials reported. As Kyiv's army struggled to fend off a robust cross-border offensive by the Kremlin's larger and better-equipped forces, at least 16 people were injured by S-300 missile strikes, according to regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The city of around one million people was shaken by 15 explosions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as "extremely cruel" and expressed renewed frustration over the insufficient supply of air defense systems from Western partners, which could prevent such barrages after more than two years of relentless war.
Kharkiv, the capital of the region with the same name, is situated about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian border. Recently, Moscow's troops have captured villages in the area as part of a broader offensive, with analysts suggesting they may be attempting to position themselves within artillery range of the city.
Ukraine faces its biggest challenge since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Ukrainian forces, outnumbered and outgunned, being pressured along the approximately 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line stretching from north to south along the eastern side of the country.
With a shortage of air defenses and awaiting further Western military support, which has only recently started to arrive, Ukraine's army has experienced setbacks in some areas while Russia has continued to target its power grid and civilian areas. Kyiv experienced further power outages on Thursday.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba highlighted the urgent need for more U.S.-made Patriot systems to defend the country's skies. Germany recently pledged one such missile system, but Kuleba stressed the critical need for six more to ensure not only Ukraine’s survival but also peace in Europe, writing on the social media platform X.
Zelenskyy identified Kharkiv and the neighboring Donetsk region as recent hotspots in the ongoing fighting. In February, Ukrainian forces withdrew from the stronghold of Avdiivka in Donetsk, an area that the Kremlin prioritizes for control.
Meanwhile, Russian troops have made incursions in the northern Sumy region, seemingly to stretch Ukraine’s depleted forces. Nearly 1,500 people, including 200 children, have been evacuated from the towns of Bilopillia and Vorozhba, reported regional Governor Volodymyr Artiukh.
“The main focus (of the fighting) is on the entire border area,” Zelenskyy stated in his nightly video address on Wednesday.
In Liubotyn, a small town about 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Kharkiv, Russian missiles struck the town center, injuring eight civilians.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed Thursday that its forces had taken control of the Donetsk settlement of Andriivka, which Ukrainian forces had held since intense combat in September left the village in ruins. Elsewhere in Donetsk, Russian forces reported advances near Chasiv Yar, Konstantinovka, and Rozdolivka. These claims have not been independently verified, and recent Russian advances have been incremental.
Ukraine has also targeted Russian regions across the border. Russia’s defense ministry stated that 35 Ukrainian rockets and three drones were shot down over the Belgorod region. Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that one drone struck a house and exploded after being shot down, killing a woman.
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