Four Killed in Russian Attacks on Ukraine Amid Moscow’s Retaliation for Kyiv’s Drone Strike

At least four people were killed and more than two dozen others injured, including a baby and a 14-year-old, following a series of intense drone, missile, and bomb attacks in eastern Ukraine on Saturday. The onslaught began in the early morning hours as Russia unleashed a barrage of 215 missiles and drones targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Ukrainian officials report that three people died and over 40 were wounded in these initial strikes.

The violence did not subside as the day wore on. Later, Russian forces reportedly dropped bombs directly on Kharkiv’s city center, killing at least one additional person and injuring five more. The attacks struck residential and civilian areas, including locations near a children’s railway, raising alarm about the deliberate targeting of non-military infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, stating, "What the Russians want is the complete destruction of life." He characterized the repeated bombardment as acts of "pure terrorism" designed to devastate Ukraine’s people and spirit.

In response to the attacks, Zelenskyy called for urgent international support, emphasizing the need for strengthened air defense systems. He urged the United States to provide positive signals regarding the sale of advanced air defense technology and thanked European allies for their continued shipments of military supplies. Pointing to the destruction wrought by more than a decade of conflict, Zelenskyy said, "The most widespread Russian ‘legacy’ is ruins and death. We must continue resisting this." He also highlighted efforts to boost joint production of air defense systems and missiles as crucial for the safety of all of Europe.

The Ukrainian president expressed outrage over the repeated strikes on civilian targets, sharing graphic images of the aftermath and lamenting the loss of life. "Every day, we lose our people only because Russia feels it can act with impunity," Zelenskyy wrote, reiterating calls for mounting global pressure to end the conflict and bring Russia to the negotiating table.

The latest wave of attacks comes days after Ukraine reportedly conducted a surprise drone strike on Russian territory. Kyiv claims the operation destroyed around 40 Russian planes, using some 117 drones launched from an undisclosed location near the Russian FSB intelligence agency’s offices. In retaliation, Russian forces have intensified assaults on Ukraine. On Friday alone, another Russian drone attack across six Ukrainian regions killed six people, including an infant, and wounded 80 others, further escalating regional tensions.

International reactions to the worsening crisis have been mixed. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, indicated in public remarks that he predicted the ensuing escalation, saying, "Well, they gave Putin a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night." Trump later compared the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia to "two young children fighting," suggesting sometimes outside parties should refrain from immediate intervention. Such comments have drawn criticism from those who see the situation as far more grave than a playground squabble.

Efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire have so far proven elusive. Ukraine and Russia have engaged in two rounds of peace talks, but officials say there has been little meaningful progress. As the violence continues, the prospects for negotiated settlement remain uncertain, while civilians in eastern Ukraine continue to bear the brunt of the conflict’s devastating toll.