Russian Guided Bomb Strikes Apartment Building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Injuring 10

A Russian guided bomb targeted a five-storey apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, late Wednesday, igniting fires and resulting in at least 10 injuries, according to local officials.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy remarked that this strike, part of an ongoing pattern of attacks on the city, highlights the urgent need for increased support from Ukraine’s Western allies. He cited Iran’s recent strike on Israel as an example of effective coalition efforts among allies.

Zelenskiy emphasized that to counter Russian assaults, “Ukraine must receive the necessary, and most importantly, sufficient help from the world, from our partners.” He urged global leaders to act decisively, stating, “Every leader knows exactly what needs to be done.”

Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv, reported that the bomb impacted between the third and fourth floors of the building in the Saltivka district. “Several floors have been destroyed. An apartment-by-apartment search is underway. People could be trapped under the rubble,” he stated in an online video.

Images circulated online depicted cars engulfed in flames outside the building while firefighters navigated the smoke and debris to rescue those inside. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed the injury count, which included a three-year-old child, and mentioned that guided bombs had targeted two areas of the city.

Situated approximately 30 kilometers from the Russian border, Kharkiv has been frequently bombarded by Russian forces throughout the ongoing conflict.

In Kyiv, the head of the capital’s military administration reported that debris from a downed Russian drone damaged an apartment building in one of the eastern districts, although no casualties were reported.

While Russia claims it does not target civilians, it has consistently struck urban areas far behind the front lines.

In his evening video address, Zelenskiy drew parallels between the assistance provided by the United States and its partners to Israel and the support he seeks for Ukraine. “Every time in the Middle East, during criminal Iranian strikes, we see how the international coalition acts together,” he remarked, reflecting on the coordinated responses to such attacks.

Furthermore, Zelenskiy reiterated his call for more military assistance discussions to take place at an upcoming meeting in Germany, which U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to attend.