At least four people were killed and ten others injured in overnight Russian attacks on the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, officials reported Friday, March 6. The attacks prompted air raid alerts across the entire country, according to multiple sources.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terechov and Oleh Synjehubov, head of the regional military administration, confirmed the casualties. Among the wounded are two boys, ages 6 and 11. A five-story apartment building sustained significant damage, and a nearby house was too struck, with reports indicating several individuals may still be trapped under the rubble.
A baby was also injured in Zaporizhia due to a separate Russian attack. The widespread attacks triggered air raid sirens throughout Ukraine for an extended period.
The attacks come as Russia continues its military operations in Ukraine, with a renewed focus on the Kharkiv border region. In early July, Russian forces launched assaults along a stretch of the Kharkiv Oblast border where they had not made any territorial gains since 2022, as reported by NV journalist Serhiy Okunev.
The renewed offensive in the Kharkiv region, which began on May 10, 2024, led to Russia’s biggest territorial gains in 18 months, according to Wikipedia. Still, the offensive stalled by early June, resulting in a largely stalemated front line.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia has “no deadline” for ending the war in Ukraine, VRT News reported. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov met with U.S. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva to prepare for trilateral talks with Russia.
The ongoing conflict continues to impact civilian life, with the Kyiv zoo working to preserve animals warm during the cold winter months. Reports also indicate that Russia may be illegally recruiting African fighters, with two South Africans fighting for Russia reportedly killed.
