A Russian guided bomb struck a high-rise residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Sunday, injuring at least 30 people, including three children. The attack has ignited fierce criticism and highlighted the reality of daily life in a city caught in the crossfire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took to Telegram to share the devastating news, describing the incident as another brutal episode in the ongoing Russian assault.
He posted harrowing images showing smoke and flames erupting from the windows of the damaged building, with all windows blown out and a fire raging between the 9th and 12th floors. Zelenskiy condemned the attack as a blatant act of terror, urging the international community to take action against what he called relentless Russian aggression.
“And the world must help defend Ukraine from Russian military aircraft, from dozens of guided bombs that take lives of Ukrainians every day. This terror can be stopped,” Zelenskiy said.
Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov echoed these sentiments, reporting extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. The city, Ukraine’s second-largest, remains a frequent target for Russian bombs, missiles, and drones, perpetually under siege due to its proximity to the Russian border.
In the wake of the attack, Kyiv has called for more advanced Western-supplied weapons, arguing that they are essential for inflicting significant damage within Russia and disrupting Moscow’s ability to launch further attacks. The plea hughlights the ongoing struggle for greater support in the face of relentless Russian strikes.
Russia, for its part, continues to deny accusations of deliberately targeting civilians, despite mounting evidence and a tragic toll of thousands of Ukrainian lives lost since the invasion began in 2022. The conflicting narratives is a reminder of the deepening divide and the urgent need for a resolution to a conflict that shows no signs of abating.