Russia Launches Deadly Drone Attack on Ukraine’s second city

KHARKIV: At least three people were killed and 17 others injured in Russia’s largest drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-biggest city. The attack happened overnight, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Terekhov said that Russia launched 48 drones, 2 missiles, and 4 gliding bombs in the assault. “We have a lot of damage,” he told reporters. Three tall residential buildings were hit badly. One building was seen burning through several floors in viral videos.

This came just a day after another heavy night of attacks. On Thursday night, six people were killed and 80 injured across Ukraine. That attack involved over 400 drones and nearly 40 missiles.

Russia claimed that the strikes were in response to “terrorist acts by the Kyiv regime.” Moscow said that the targets were military-related.

These strikes follow Ukraine’s bold drone mission, known as Operation Spider Web. The operation reportedly damaged at least 40 Russian military aircraft at four airbases deep inside Russia last Sunday.

According to Ukraine’s SBU (security service), 117 drones were used in that operation. The drones were secretly transported inside wooden cabins mounted on trucks. The trucks had remote-controlled roofs to hide the drones.

The vehicles were driven close to the airbases by drivers who were unaware of what they were carrying. Once in place, the drones were launched remotely to hit the aircraft.

In a statement Friday night, US President Donald Trump commented on the situation. He said Ukraine’s drone operation had given President Vladimir Putin “a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night.”

Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the war continues to escalate with attacks like these.