As a coordinated wave of drone strikes ignited a series of fires and several casualties followed, the late night of April 8 found Kharkiv once more under a deluge of aerial bombardment from Russia. Ukrainian authorities have verified that at least two people suffered injuries and much material damage was observed in several areas of the city. Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov says the attack consisted of more than a dozen explosions; over 15 blasts were recorded during the whole night. Described as a “massive” aerial attack, it involved a volley of Iranian-produced Shahed drones — unmanned aerial vehicles that have come to be a mainstay in Russia’s long-range strikes.
Later, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service verified that the attack’s main objectives were not military installations but rather civilian infrastructure such as commercial buildings, industrial areas, warehouses, and car repair stations. Many of the assaults led to massive conflagrations that first responders fought well into the early morning hours. More than 20 drones were aimed at Kharkiv, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov; 17 of these hit only the Osnovyanskyi region. The Shevchenkovskiy, Kyivskyi, and Industrial areas also saw more strikes. The destruction spread over both urban and business areas, worsening the impact of the continuous war on civilian life. This most recent attack coincided with a simultaneous drone strike on the city of Dnipro, where at least 14 people were hurt, therefore more evidence of the expanding range of Russia’s aerial offensive. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale attack, Kharkiv, located in Ukraine’s northeast, has remained a regular basis target.
The city has been under several bombings with missiles, drones, and glide bombs in the past few months. These bombings have struck places full of civilians many times, disregarding international rules meant to protect non-combatants in wars. A week before, another drone strike in Kharkiv killed four noncombatants and wounded 35 people, one of them a small baby. The assaults’ pattern emphasizes a deliberate plan, according to Ukrainian officials, to undermine civilian morale and disable vital assets. Although Russia ostensibly agreed to restrict assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Kyiv has given proof of numerous breaches of this so-called truce to Washington. According Ukrainian authorities, Moscow still uses bombing runs to erode cities and deplete emergency supplies. Thus far, attempts to achieve a more general ending of hostilities have failed. The United States has allegedly suggested a 30-day truce involving all military operations. Although Ukrainian government has stated willingness to respect a truce, Russia refused to consider the idea and decided rather to increase its attack from the air.
