Kharkiv Endures Fierce Russian Assault as War Escalates Across Ukraine

Kharkiv was rocked by intense strikes early Saturday morning, marking one of the most brutal attacks since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Mayor Igor Terekhov said the city experienced at least 40 explosions, calling it the strongest offensive Kharkiv has suffered throughout the conflict.

This violent escalation came just after a massive Russian aerial bombardment across Ukraine, widely believed to be retribution for Kyiv's recent drone strike that significantly damaged Russia’s strategic cruise missile fleet. Kharkiv’s close proximity to the border makes it a frequent target in Moscow’s military operations.

The attack killed at least three civilians. Two perished when an apartment complex in the Osnovyanskyi district caught fire, and another died after a strike hit a home in Kyivskyi district. Emergency footage showed blazing buildings and rescuers pulling survivors from debris.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha decried the assault as a continued campaign of terror by Russia. He called on the international community to apply more pressure to stop the bloodshed and hold Moscow accountable for the targeting of non-combatants and civilian structures.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the strikes were high-precision operations against military targets. However, Ukrainian prosecutors stated that civilian facilities, including a school and administrative building, were damaged. This contradicted Moscow’s assertions and fueled criticism of its wartime conduct.

Local reports revealed that among the injured were a 14-year-old girl and a baby boy suffering psychological trauma. Witnesses spoke of the horror as buildings crumbled. One resident described how a neighbor was killed instantly, while his mother was trapped and later rescued from the rubble.

Simultaneously, tensions rose over a delayed prisoner exchange. Russian official Vladimir Medinsky accused Ukraine of indefinitely postponing both the repatriation of bodies and a scheduled prisoner swap. He claimed Ukraine’s delegation failed to appear, despite prior arrangements made in Istanbul.

Ukrainian officials denied Russia's version of events, insisting no such exchange was scheduled. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military said it downed a Russian Su-35 fighter jet near Kursk. While Russia has yet to respond officially, pro-Kremlin sources acknowledged the loss, stating the pilot had survived.