Russian strikes hit homes in Kharkiv
Missiles injure at least 15 people and damage residential buildings
Two Russian missile strikes struck a multi‑storey residential area in Kharkiv, injuring at least 15 people, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram. Local officials and witnesses described the aftermath as extensive: apartment blocks and civilian infrastructure were heavily damaged, windows and facades blown out, debris littering streets and courtyards, and smoke rising from the strike sites. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, after surveying the scene, said there were “no military objects” in the area.
Emergency services were dispatched immediately to treat the wounded and assess the destruction. Several people with shrapnel and blast injuries were hospitalized, while others received first aid at the scene. Firefighters extinguished small fires that ignited after the strikes, and rescue teams conducted searches of damaged buildings to confirm no one remained trapped under rubble. Local authorities reported that some residents were forced to evacuate their homes amid concerns about structural damage and ongoing safety risks.
Eyewitnesses recounted the shock and disruption caused by the attacks. Such personal accounts underscore the human toll of strikes that have repeatedly struck Kharkiv despite the city not being an active frontline, officials said.
Ukrainian authorities condemned the assaults, characterizing them as attacks that again hit civilian areas and infrastructure far from active combat zones. They warned residents to remain vigilant and continue following air‑raid precautions as the risk of further strikes remains high and air defenses stay on alert. Local teams commenced damage assessments and utility crews worked to restore water, power and other essential services disrupted by the explosions.
Russian authorities maintain that their operations target military objectives and deny deliberately striking civilian populations. Nevertheless, Ukrainian officials and independent monitors have documented repeated damage to residential neighborhoods across Kharkiv and other urban centers, raising continued concern among humanitarian and investigative groups about civilian safety and compliance with international humanitarian law.
The strikes add to the pattern of attacks affecting Kharkiv since the conflict began, exacerbating displacement, psychological trauma and economic disruption for residents.
