At least six people have been killed and over a dozen injured in a Russian missile attack on Kharkiv, located in north-eastern Ukraine, according to the regional head. Two additional people remain missing following the assault, which involved at least 15 strikes on Ukraine's second-largest city, stated Oleg Sinegubov. He advised residents to stay in shelters.
Ukraine's state railway company reported damage to several of its facilities and injuries to some employees due to the attack. Earlier this month, Russian forces initiated a renewed offensive in the region, attempting to penetrate a weakened Ukrainian front line.
On Wednesday, Mr. Sinegubov confirmed ongoing fighting near the towns of Pletenivka and Vovchansk, but assured that Ukrainian forces maintained control. In a post on X, he criticized the global community's reluctance to confront terrorists appropriately over the past three years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attacks on Kharkiv highlight Russia exploiting Ukraine's lack of air defenses. Delays in the delivery of US-made surface-to-air missile systems, due to congressional wrangling over a multi-billion dollar aid package for Ukraine, exacerbated the situation. Mr. Zelensky has consistently called for more air defense missiles and modern fighter jets from allies.
Fighting in the region has displaced around 14,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Jarno Habicht from WHO noted that approximately 189,000 people near the Russian border face significant risks due to ongoing conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the aim is not to capture Kharkiv but to establish a "security zone" for Russia's border region. Meanwhile, Ukraine has launched its own attacks into Russian territory. Belgorod, just 12km (7 miles) from the Ukrainian border, has been targeted multiple times. Earlier this week, a drone strike on a moving car in Belgorod resulted in one death and three injuries.
President Zelensky recently warned that the Russian ground offensive might only be the "first wave."
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