At least 25 people were wounded after a Russian missile struck a residential apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the early hours of November 8, 2024.
The 12-storey building was hit by a bomb that caused significant damage, particularly on the first and third floors.
Ukrainian authorities confirmed that rescue operations are still underway, with emergency teams working to retrieve people trapped inside the building.
Kharkiv’s Mayor Igor Terekhov reported on Telegram that, as of the latest update, 25 people had been confirmed injured.
However, the number could rise as search-and-rescue operations continue. “The situation is still developing, and our teams are doing everything they can to assist those trapped in the wreckage,” the mayor said.
Rescue teams, including local firefighters and military personnel, have been working tirelessly since the attack to save those stuck on the higher floors.
According to reports, several residents of the building were in their apartments when the bomb struck, and the force of the explosion caused the structure to collapse in parts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, condemned the attack, accusing Russia of deliberately targeting civilians.
“This is yet another example of Russia’s strategy to terrorize and attack residential areas, indiscriminately hurting innocent civilians,” Yermak said. He also emphasized that such strikes violated international law and the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit targeting civilian infrastructure.
In addition to the Kharkiv attack, Russia launched a wave of aerial assaults on several Ukrainian cities.
Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, was targeted by another round of Russian drone strikes on Thursday, injuring two people and damaging numerous buildings.
The Ukrainian authorities reported that several of the drones were intercepted by Kyiv’s air defenses, but some of the debris still caused damage to residential and commercial properties.
The southern port city of Odessa was also hit with drones, with regional governor Oleg Kiper confirming that at least two civilians were injured in the attack.
Kiper expressed concern that the ongoing aerial strikes were part of a broader strategy to weaken Ukraine’s defense capabilities and infrastructure.
Ukraine has been grappling with continuous Russian missile and drone assaults since the start of the invasion in February 2022.
The Ukrainian government has been urgently seeking additional advanced air defense systems from its Western allies to protect cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa.
“The Russians have escalated their attacks as winter approaches, and we are witnessing more indiscriminate bombings.
This is why we need stronger air defense systems, to safeguard our cities and protect our citizens,” President Zelensky stated in a recent address.
The international community has condemned these attacks, with the United Nations calling for immediate investigations into Russia’s ongoing strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Western nations have pledged additional support for Ukraine in terms of military aid, including air defense systems, to help the country defend itself against Russia’s aerial warfare.
As of now, Kharkiv remains a focal point of the ongoing conflict, and residents are urged to remain vigilant as air raid sirens continue to sound across the region.
Emergency services remain on high alert as more reports of damage and casualties are expected in the coming hours.
