Russian drone and missile attacks kill at least 4 in eastern Ukraine

At least four people lost their lives in eastern Ukraine and over two dozen others were injured, including a baby and a 14-year-old, after Russia launched a series of drone-and-missile attacks on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials. The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, bore the brunt of the assault with 215 missiles and drones raining down on the city in the early hours of Saturday. The devastating attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left more than 40 others wounded.

Later in the day, Russia escalated the violence by dropping bombs on Kharkiv’s city center, claiming the life of at least one more person and injuring five others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, stating that the Russians were aiming for the complete destruction of life in the region. He emphasized the need for urgent support in strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to defend against further aggression from Russia.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the international community for their assistance and called for a united effort in holding Russia accountable for its actions. He highlighted the importance of joint production of air defense systems and missiles to bolster Europe’s security against future threats. The Ukrainian president also criticized the indiscriminate targeting of civilians in the attacks, labeling it as pure terrorism that cannot be ignored.

The recent escalation of violence comes in the wake of a surprise drone attack launched by Ukraine on Russian territory, resulting in the destruction of 40 Russian planes, as claimed by Kyiv. Zelenskyy revealed that 117 drones were deployed in the operation, which was reportedly based out of an office adjacent to the local Russian intelligence agency. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has seen multiple rounds of peace talks with limited progress towards a resolution.

The situation remains tense as both sides continue to exchange attacks, leading to further loss of life and destruction. The international community has been urged to intervene and facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The devastating impact of the recent attacks serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire and a commitment to diplomacy to prevent further bloodshed in the region.