Kharkiv: Two people, including a three-year-old child, were killed and around 28 others injured after a Russian strike hit the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials confirmed.
A multi-storey residential apartment block was almost destroyed in what authorities described as a dual missile attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike as heinous, accusing Russia of continuing attacks on civilians despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Kharkiv regional officials said the bodies of a woman and a three-year-old child were recovered from the rubble, with preliminary information suggesting they may have been a mother and son. Among the injured was a six-month-old baby, while 16 people were taken to the hospital for treatment.
A large-scale search and rescue operation remains underway, with more than 80 volunteers working at the scene, according to Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Zelenskyy stated that, “Unfortunately, this is how the Russians treat life and people – they continue killing, despite all efforts by the world, and especially by the United States, in the diplomatic process.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry denied carrying out the attack, claiming in a statement on Telegram that no missile or aircraft strikes were launched on Kharkiv. The ministry suggested the explosion was caused by the detonation of Ukrainian ammunition, citing video footage showing what it described as ‘heavy smoke of unknown origin’ before the blast.
The Russian side also alleged that reports of the Kharkiv strike were intended to divert attention from a New Year’s Eve drone attack on a hotel in a Russian-held part of Ukraine’s Kherson region. Moscow has accused Ukraine of killing at least 27 people and injuring more than 30 during a strike on a New Year’s celebration in the village of Khorly on the Black Sea.
Ukraine, when asked to comment on Russian statements, said it would not respond directly to claims from officials in occupied regions. Kyiv reiterated that it adheres to international humanitarian law and conducts strikes solely against military targets.
The Kharkiv attack comes ahead of high-level talks set to take place in Kyiv. Zelenskyy said representatives from around 15 countries are expected to attend, along with officials from the European Union and NATO, while a US delegation will join via video link. The meeting precedes a gathering of leaders from the so-called coalition of the willing scheduled to be held in France on January 6.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Investigative Committee said it has opened an inquiry into the alleged Ukrainian strike in the Kherson region. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Zelenskyy of attempting to intimidate populations in territories claimed by Moscow following disputed referendums.
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