Russian forces launched a concentrated missile attack on Kharkiv around midday on Monday, Jan. 5, striking the city at least five times in rapid succession and causing severe damage to its energy infrastructure, local authorities said.
According to Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, the first strike was recorded shortly before noon in the industrial zone of the Slobidskyi district. Within minutes, additional explosions followed in roughly the same area, marking one of the most intense daytime attacks on the city in recent weeks.
“The enemy deliberately carried out five missile strikes on Kharkiv’s energy infrastructure,” Terekhov said in a series of Telegram posts. “We have very significant damage.”
Rapid sequence of strikes shocks the city
Terekhov’s updates traced the escalation almost in real time. The first impact was reported at 11:49 a.m., followed by a second strike just two minutes later. A third missile hit was confirmed at 11:57 a.m., with the fourth and fifth strikes reported shortly after noon.
The close timing of the explosions underscored the intensity of the attack and left little room for emergency services to respond between impacts. Officials did not immediately report casualties from the Jan. 5 strikes, but warned that damage assessments were ongoing.
Air Force confirms missiles and drones over Kharkiv
The Air Force issued parallel warnings during the attack, alerting residents to incoming threats.
“High-speed target in the direction of Kharkiv,” it said in one message, followed minutes later by a warning about unmanned aerial vehicles operating near the city. Residents were urged to remain in shelters until the end of the air raid.
The combination of missile strikes and drone activity suggested a coordinated attack aimed at overwhelming air defenses and emergency response systems.
Part of a pattern of escalating attacks
The latest barrage comes just days after a deadly Russian strike on Kharkiv on Jan. 2, when missiles hit a residential area. As cleanup and recovery efforts continued in the days after the attack, rescue workers recovered bodies from the rubble of the destroyed residential building. The confirmed death toll from that attack ultimately rose to five.
Reports indicated that two Iskander ballistic missiles hit the Kyivskyi district, destroying an office building and partially collapsing a nearby residential block. Alongside the confirmed deaths, authorities reported more than 30 injuries, and said at least 12 people were rescued from under the debris.
Energy infrastructure under pressure
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has faced repeated strikes on both residential neighborhoods and critical infrastructure as Russia continues its campaign against major urban centers. Local officials have warned that sustained attacks on energy facilities risk compounding humanitarian challenges during winter conditions.
Further details on the impact of the Jan. 5 strikes are expected as emergency crews continue damage assessments and work to restore essential services.