A recent airstrike in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has left 21 people injured, including a child and two teenagers. The attack occurred late Saturday in a residential area of the Shevchenkivskyi district, as confirmed by Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
The injured victims included an 8-year-old girl and two 17-year-olds, with eight individuals requiring hospitalization. Among them, a 17-year-old boy and a 39-year-old woman are reported to be in serious condition.
This strike is just one in a series of assaults on Kharkiv, located about 18 miles from the Russian border, which has faced relentless attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
In a Telegram update, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the attack utilized a guided aerial bomb, with ongoing emergency response efforts. Syniehubov identified the weapon as a Russian FAB-250 bomb, a transformation of Soviet-era munitions into highly destructive guided weapons now frequently used in attacks along the front.
Buildings of 9 and 16 stories were destroyed, while seven others suffered damage. The attack resulted in over 1,200 broken windows and damage to 21 private vehicles. Just a day prior, another strike injured at least 15 people in the city, and a previous attack wounded 35, including three children.
Exploding blasts were also reported in other Ukrainian regions over the weekend. In Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed multiple explosions after prior warnings of missile threats. Local officials have not yet clarified the extent of damages or casualties in that area.
Additionally, Khmelnytskyi Oblast witnessed further explosions overnight as Shahed-type drones approached Kharkiv, prompting Ukraine’s air defense forces to issue warnings of incoming high-speed threats, leading to subsequent missile strikes on residential areas.
In the midst of these events, the European Union has pledged up to €35 billion (approximately $39.1 billion) to support Ukraine’s recovery, working alongside the Group of Seven (G7) nations. This financial aid is part of an ongoing initiative to help Ukraine rebuild its economy and infrastructure impacted by the ongoing conflict.