At least eight people have been killed and dozens injured in a fresh wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine, with a guided aerial bomb hitting a residential building in Kharkiv and leaving at least 22 people wounded, including children.
The latest strikes, which also affected Kyiv and other parts of the country, prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to accuse Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and using attacks to inflict fear and pressure on Ukrainian society.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, a guided Russian aerial bomb struck an apartment building early Monday, damaging the structure and leaving at least 22 people injured, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Ukrainian officials said children were among those hurt.
The overnight assault came less than a day after eight people were reported killed in Russian attacks elsewhere in Ukraine, adding to the mounting civilian toll as the war continues.
Zelensky said the attacks on residential areas, schools and a market demonstrated what he described as a deliberate effort to terrorise the population.
He argued that the latest wave of strikes was inconsistent with any genuine attempt at reducing hostilities, particularly as diplomatic contacts continue over possible steps towards de-escalation.
The attacks were not confined to Kharkiv. Russian drones were also reported over Kyiv, where authorities said a petrol station was hit, while other strikes were recorded in different parts of the country.
The latest escalation came against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic activity surrounding the conflict.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon what Berlin described as a dangerous course of escalation and pursue a peaceful resolution to the war.
Wadephul held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, although Lavrov subsequently indicated that the meeting had produced no significant breakthrough.
The Independent reported the latest developments.
The renewed attacks underscore the gap between diplomatic efforts to explore an end to the conflict and the continuing military operations on Ukrainian territory, with civilian communities remaining exposed to aerial strikes.
For Kharkiv, Monday’s attack was another reminder of the city’s vulnerability, as Russian forces continue to use drones and guided bombs against targets in and around the northeastern Ukrainian city.
