Kharkiv Reels Under Deadly Russian Strikes
In the early hours of June 7, Kharkiv—Ukraine’s second-largest city—endured a fierce assault by Russian forces. The bombardment, combining drones, cruise missiles, and guided glide bombs, claimed the lives of at least one civilian and injured dozens more. This marked one of the deadliest onslaughts the city has seen amid an escalation that’s dimming hopes for peace .
Residents woke to a terrifying scene as 21 individuals were wounded in the first wave; city officials later confirmed another person died and five more were injured from aerial bombs that struck the city center later that afternoon . Kharkiv’s mayor described it as “the most powerful attack” since the full-scale invasion began .
Emergency crews and firefighters rushed to rescue survivors from shattered buildings. One local, Alina, bravely described how neighbors joined to fight the flames—some helped evacuate a trapped girl before professionals took over. Another witness recounted seeing sparks raining from their building, instantly realizing their neighborhood was under attack .
Authorities reported extensive damage: 18 apartment buildings and 13 private houses were struck, and multiple urban infrastructure sites were hit . In one industrial district, nine people were reported missing beneath rubble following hits from missiles, glide bombs, and a dozen drones . Tragically, among the wounded were two children—a baby boy and a 14-year-old girl .
Ukraine’s air defense claimed it had thwarted most of the offensive—downing 87 drones and seven missiles—but the sheer volume—over 200 projectiles—far overwhelmed defenses . Other regions, including Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Ternopil, were also targeted in the surge .
Despite mounting civilian suffering, diplomatic efforts between Ukraine and Russia have yet to yield results. High-ranking officials accused each other of sabotaging prisoner exchanges, including one involving the return of soldiers’ bodies agreed upon in Istanbul. Details remain murky as both sides traded blame.