KYIV: Repeated Russian shelling on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Sunday killed at least 10 people, said authorities in the border area facing a new Russian offensive. Russian military since May 10 carried out a ground operation in the northeastern region, where they achieved their biggest territorial gains in a year-and-a-half.
Ukrainian authorities in the border area stated that repeated Russian shelling on Sunday inflicted severe casualties, with ten civilians confirmed dead and several others injured. The indiscriminate attacks targeted residential areas on the outskirts of Kharkiv city, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in their wake, authorities stated.
Interior Minister Igor Klymenko conveyed the harrowing toll of the onslaught, disclosing that among the victims were an 8-year-old child and a seven-months pregnant woman. Tragically, even those who rushed to aid the injured fell victim to subsequent strikes.
The use of “double-tap” attacks, wherein a second strike follows shortly after the first, has been condemned as a deliberate strategy to maximize casualties among first responders and civilians alike.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Russia’s relentless aggression, emphasizing the need for urgent defensive measures to safeguard civilian lives.
The escalation of violence in the Kharkiv region comes in the wake of a broader Russian offensive, marked by increased aerial strikes and ground assaults. Despite Ukrainian efforts to repel the incursion, Russian forces have made significant territorial gains.
The situation remains fluid and volatile, with conflicting accounts from Ukrainian and Russian authorities regarding the extent of the offensive and its impact on the ground. While Ukrainian forces claim to have halted the enemy’s advance, Russian defense ministry statements assert ongoing progress into Ukrainian territory.
