‘No Military Purpose’: Russian Bombs Rip Through Central Kharkiv, Injure Over 30 — Including Children

A Russian airstrike hit the center of Kharkiv early Thursday, injuring at least 33 people, including four children, Ukrainian officials said. The bombs damaged a residential neighborhood and set vehicles on fire in one of the city’s most densely populated areas.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is located near the Russian border and has faced regular air attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

The strike involved two guided bombs that targeted the Shevchenkivskyi district, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov. One bomb hit a civilian business, starting a fire. The second exploded near a multi-story apartment building, igniting about 15 parked cars. At least five of the injured were hospitalized, said regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.

“These are completely senseless strikes with no military purpose,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in response to the attack. “Russia’s only goal is to continue its aggression and kill. That’s why we need stronger air defense and expanded weapons production. This is what will help save lives.”

Zelensky also posted photos and videos from the scene showing burned-out cars, shattered windows, and smoke rising from residential blocks.

In a separate incident, a couple of hours earlier, a Russian missile strike hit the village of Pidlyman in the Kharkiv region, killing three members of a Ukrainian family who had earlier fled their home to escape the war. The victims – a 57-year-old woman, her 58-year-old husband, and their 36-year-old son – were found under the rubble of their house, according to local officials.

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Authorities said the family had previously fled the village of Bohuslavka, which was occupied by Russian forces in 2022 and later retaken by Ukraine.

This attack followed a Russian drone swarm launched at Odesa early Thursday morning. The massive strike damaged homes, historic landmarks, and parts of the city’s UNESCO-protected historic center – including the iconic Pryvoz Market, a nearly 200-year-old symbol of Odesa.

A nearby nine-story apartment building was also struck, with parts of it destroyed from the 5th to the 8th floors. 

Governor Oleh Kiper said multiple fires broke out across the city, including at a gas station, a house, and several small businesses.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Odesa — a key Black Sea port — since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. UNESCO added the city’s historic center to its list of World Heritage in Danger last year.