Russian attack on Kharkov kills 6, injures 10, officials say

A Russian attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv early Saturday killed six civilians and wounded 10 others, regional officials said.

Ukrainian national police said the attack was carried out by a drone. It posted photos of fires breaking out on city streets and near buildings.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on the Telegram messaging app: “As of this morning, six people were killed and 10 injured in the night strike in the Shevchenkivsky district .”

“The attack hit residential areas and damaged at least nine high-rise buildings, three dormitories, several administrative buildings, a shop, a gas station, a service station and cars,” he said.

News reports said the strike occurred after midnight.

The city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine has been the target of frequent Russian attacks, which have intensified in recent weeks. A drone strike in the city on Wednesday killed four people and severely damaged apartment buildings.

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrei Yermak told news outlet POLITICO in an interview published Thursday that he believes Kharkiv is the target of a new Russian offensive in May or June The most likely target.

Kharkiv Region Governor Oleh Synehubov reported that a residential building in the north of the city of Kharkiv was hit and a village hit by missiles. No casualties were reported in either incident.

An air raid warning remained in effect for Kharkiv and much of the country, including the capital Kiev, for hours after the attack.