To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Vladimir Putin has unleashed his ‘most powerful attack of the entire war’ on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Missiles and drones pounded the northeastern city, located about 19 miles from the Russian border, killing three people and injuring as many as 21.
Regional governor, Oleg Synegubov, said those wounded included at least two children.
Aerial glide bombs – which fly over long distances after being released by planes – were also deployed in the attack, the latest in near daily widescale assaults by Russia.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram: ‘Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack in the entire time of the full-scale war.
‘As of this moment, at least 40 explosions have been heard in the city in an hour and a half.
‘The enemy is simultaneously striking with missiles, “Shaheds” [Iranian-made drones] and guided aerial bombs.’
Terekhov said altogether 18 residential blocks and 13 private homes were damaged in the attack.
Citing preliminary data, he said Russia deployed 48 Shahed drones, two missiles and four aerial glide bombs.
Smoke still billowed over Kharkiv after the bombing at around 2am UK time as rescue services continued to comb through rubble.
In the southern city of Kherson, shelling killed a couple and damaged two high-rise buildings, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
(Picture: EPA)
Attacks were also recorded on the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa and Ternopil.
The intensity of the Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past weeks has further dampened hopes that the warring sides could reach a peace deal soon – especially after Ukraine recently embarrassed the Kremlin with a surprising drone attack on military airfields deep inside Russia.
In the last 24 hours, Ukraine has suffered attacks on multiple regions and cities, with updated figures showing that at least six people were killed and 80 wounded, with some still remaining trapped under the debris of their homes.
Among the dead were three emergency responders in Kyiv, one person in Lutsk and two people in Chernihiv.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said more than 400 drones and 40 missiles were launched by Russian forces.
The attacks come ahead of an expected prisoner swap, set to take place this weekend – the only concrete agreement to come out of the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.