This week, Russia intensified strikes on Ukraine’s civilian sites. At around 1:25 p.m. on Thursday, a Russian missile hit a cafe and store during a wake service in the village of Hroza in the Kupyansk district of Kharkiv region, killing 52 people, including a child. This is the deadliest single attack this year. In January, a Russian missile hit a residential apartment building in Dnipro, killing 46 people.
Russia launches missile strike at civilian sites of Kharkiv
A Russian missile strike early on Friday destroyed a three-story apartment building in Kharkiv and damaged two others. Two people were pulled alive from the debris. A 10-year-old boy’s body has been discovered under the rubble of a residential building. The Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office said the attack injured 23 people, including an 11-month-old baby. The number of casualties could rise further.
In other news, an EU Foreign Ministers meeting was held in Kyiv on Monday. Ukraine looks into expanding joint weapons production deals with Western companies. Agreements were struck to produce French multi-role Aarok drones in Ukraine. There were some battle successes — Ukraine’s “Army of Drones” hit a record number of Russian artillery pieces last week. Ukrainian drones hit a high-value Russian air defense system near Belgorod in Russia, and Ukrainian special forces landed in occupied Crimea and clashed with Russian soldiers.
Finally, as winter approaches, more Russia’s nuclear threats are to come, Zelenskyi said, citing Ukrainian intelligence reports. Russia is expected to carry out many missile and drone attacks this winter, he also said in a separate message.