KYIV (Reuters) – A deadly incident unfolded in Ukraine as Russian forces launched a series of airstrikes, resulting in the loss of four lives and widespread destruction of residential buildings and infrastructure, as confirmed by Ukrainian officials.
The Interior Ministry reported that a Russian missile struck a residential building in the central city of Poltava, claiming the lives of three individuals and injuring ten, including a child. Distressing images shared on the Telegram messaging app depicted the aftermath, with several top floors of the building severely damaged and thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Emergency response teams and numerous rescuers swiftly mobilized to navigate through the debris.
In another tragic development, one person was killed and four others were wounded in the city of Kharkiv in the northeast due to a drone attack, as stated by the Kharkiv mayor. Furthermore, officials noted that Russian forces inflicted damage on buildings in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia.
Despite Ukrainian air defense efforts to thwart the attacks in Kyiv, there were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties in the capital, officials confirmed.
In a response to the ongoing assaults, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets expressed deep concern, stating on Telegram, “Russia’s daily attacks on Ukraine are a signal that the aggressor will not stop committing its crimes. Last night and this morning, Russia shelled Ukraine again in various regions such as Odesa, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. The terrorist actions target civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, educational institutions, and vehicles.”
As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia nears its three-year mark, Moscow has escalated its aerial assaults on Ukraine, launching numerous drone attacks almost daily. The airstrikes on Saturday followed a missile strike by Russia on the historic center of the southern Black Sea port of Odesa the previous evening, causing damage to the city.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
