Russia Pounds Kharkiv With Drones, Injuring Civilians, Including Children

Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Kharkiv early Wednesday, April 2, causing multiple explosions, fires, and injuries, including a nine-month-old baby.

Explosions rocked Kharkiv in the early hours of Wednesday, April 2, as Russian troops carried out a large-scale drone attack.

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration (OVA), Oleh Synehubov, reported the first explosions at 12:19 a.m. Local Telegram channels recorded more than ten blasts across the city.

“Kharkiv is under a massive enemy drone attack. At least 15 explosions have been heard in the city,” Synehubov wrote at 12:49 a.m.

Initially, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported two casualties, including a child. It was later confirmed that the child was a 9-month-old boy. The number of injured later rose to eight.

According to Terekhov, all 15 drone strikes hit the Kholodnohirsky district.

The State Emergency Service reported via Telegram fires at two civilian enterprises and industrial buildings, with blazes covering 1,000, 800, and 70 square meters.

Nearby private homes were also damaged.

Preliminary reports indicate that eight people were injured, including three children - a 9-month-old baby, a 7-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl. All suffered acute stress reactions.

Kharkiv Region Police have opened criminal proceedings under Article 438 (war crimes) of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

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Despite the pause in drone strikes, Russia continued heavy bombardment, hitting Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk with glide bombs. In Nikopol, Russian artillery and drone strikes damaged infrastructure but caused no casualties.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Russia violates the so-called “energy truce.” A morning strike on April 1 damaged a power facility in Kherson, cutting electricity to 45,000 households. He noted similar attacks in Kharkiv and Poltava.

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