Russian missiles struck Ukraine’s second city in the northeast of the country and killed at least seven civilians early Thursday.
Russian missiles struck Ukraine’s second city in the northeast of the country and killed at least seven civilians early Thursday, officials said, as Kiev’s military struggled to contain an intense cross-border offensive by forces of the Kremlin, larger and better equipped.
At least 16 people were injured when S-300 missiles hit the city of Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The sound of 15 explosions resounded in this city of nearly a million inhabitants.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack “extremely cruel“. He once again expressed his frustration at not having received enough air defense systems from the country’s Western partners to prevent barrages after more than two years of incessant war.
The city of Kharkiv, which is the capital of the region of the same name, is located approximately 20 kilometers from the Russian border. In recent weeks, Moscow’s troops have captured villages in the region as part of a broad offensive, and analysts say they may try to get within artillery range of the city.
In what is shaping up to be the biggest test for Ukraine since Russia’s all-out invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian forces, outnumbered and outgunned, are being squeezed at several points along the line. of approximately 1,000 kilometers of frontage that winds from north to south along the eastern part of the country.
Ukraine lacks air defense
Ukraine, which lacks air defenses and awaits Western military support that recently began arriving, has seen its army retreat in places while Russia pounded its power grid and civilian areas. Kyiv suffered further power cuts on Thursday.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the attacks underscored the need “urgent“the country to have more U.S.-made Patriot systems to defend its skies. Germany recently committed to providing one of these missile systems”but it is essential to obtain six more as soon as possible, not only for the survival of Ukraine, but also for peace in Europe” wrote Mr Kuleba on social media platform X.
Zelenskyy said the main flashpoints in recent fighting have been Kharkiv and the neighboring Donetsk region, where Ukraine’s defenders withdrew in February from the Avdiivka stronghold. For the Kremlin, taking control of the entire partially occupied Donetsk region is a war priority.
At the same time, and in an apparent effort to stretch exhausted Ukrainian forces, Russian troops have made incursions into the northern Sumy region.
Nearly 1,500 people, including 200 children, were evacuated from the towns of Bilopillia and Vorozhba in this region, according to regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh.
“The fighting is concentrated across the entire border area” Mr. Zelenskyy said during his nightly video address.
In Liubotyn, a small town about 10 kilometers west of the city of Kharkiv, Russian missiles struck the center of the city, injuring eight civilians.
The Russians say they are making progress
The Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday its forces had taken control of the Donetsk town of Andriivka, which Ukrainian forces had held since fierce fighting in September that left the village in ruins.
Elsewhere in Donetsk, Russian forces claimed advances in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar, Konstantinovka and Rozdolivka.
It has not been possible to independently verify these claims. Recent Russian advances have been gradual.
Ukraine has also set its sights on Russian regions across the border. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that 35 Ukrainian rockets and three drones were shot down over the Belgorod region. The region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a drone hit a house and exploded after being shot down, killing a woman.