Russian Bomb Strikes Kharkiv Apartment Building, Leaving One Dead and 42 Injured, Officials Report

KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – On Sunday, a Russian-guided bomb struck a multi-storey apartment building in Kharkiv, resulting in a fire that claimed one life and left 42 people injured, according to officials.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasized that this latest assault highlights the urgent need for Ukraine’s Western allies to supply weapons and air defense systems, and to grant permission for strikes on targets deep within Russia to protect lives.

Prosecutors from the Kharkiv region reported via Telegram that the body of a 94-year-old woman was recovered from the ninth floor of the damaged building.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that the fire caused by the strike had been extinguished and confirmed the injury count, which includes three children. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov noted that residents could still be trapped under the debris.

Syniehubov shared images showing severe damage to the upper floors of the building, with smoke and flames visible from shattered windows.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy mentioned that three additional guided bombs targeted villages in the Kharkiv region, an area frequently hit by Russian attacks close to the border.

While Russia has yet to comment on the incident involving the apartment building, it has previously denied intentionally targeting civilians, even though many civilians have lost their lives since the invasion began in 2022.

Zelenskiy urged for prompt decisions regarding long-range strikes "to eliminate Russian military aviation at its bases. These are clear and logical decisions."

He stressed that each Russian attack, like the one in Kharkiv, reinforces the need for ample long-range capabilities.

Zelenskiy expressed hope that decisive actions would be forthcoming from the United States, France, Germany, and Italy, "those whose resolve can help save lives."

Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated last week that if the West permits Ukraine to strike Russian territory with Western-made long-range missiles, it would effectively engage in direct conflict with Russia.