Russia has attacked an apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, resulting in at least three deaths and 31 injuries, according to local officials.
The strikes, which targeted the high-rise and other residential areas, utilized guided glide bombs on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, stating, “The targets for Russian bombs are residential buildings, a bakery, a stadium—essentially, the everyday lives of ordinary people.”
This assault coincides with escalating fighting in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops are encircling the largely destroyed town of Vuhledar. Shortly after the strikes in Kharkiv, Zelensky shared images of the damaged residential tower, highlighting a large gaping hole in the structure. He called on allies to “stop the terror,” while attending the UN General Assembly in New York, where he emphasized Ukraine’s urgent need for US military support.
Zelensky stated, “There is much discussion now at the UN General Assembly about collective efforts for security and the future. But we just need to stop the terror to ensure security and a future.”
In Kharkiv, officials reported that Russian strikes hit at least four districts, including a block that had previously been targeted at the war’s onset. Mayor Ihor Terekov noted, “It was almost repaired, all the windows were in, insulated, and prepared for the heating season. The enemy hit it a second time with a KAB [glide bomb].”
In recent months, Russia has increasingly employed glide bombs—Soviet-era munitions enhanced with wings and satellite navigation. These relatively cheap and destructive weapons have played a significant role in Russia’s attempts to gain ground in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported that seven airstrikes using KAB glide bombs resulted in injuries to at least 21 civilians across 13 residential buildings and two educational facilities in Kharkiv.
In another incident, officials in Zaporizhzhia reported a separate strike on Monday night, which left one dead and injured at least four others, including two children.
Russian forces have made significant gains in eastern Ukraine and are advancing on Vuhledar, a coal-mining town in the Donbas region. Military bloggers indicated that Russian troops had reached the outskirts of Vuhledar, while Ukraine’s military has acknowledged attempts to defend its positions there.
According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have also advanced near Hlyboke, Kupyansk, and Pokrovsk, while Ukrainian forces have recently made strides in the Kursk region.
