Russian strikes kill 4 in Ukraine

The shelling of Kharkiv continues

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Four people were killed and more than a dozen others injured Thursday by early-morning Russian bombardments on the northeast Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, the governor said.

Russian attacks on Kharkiv a day early left at least seven dead.

Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv has been subjected to persistent Russian shelling since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in late February.

The head of the Kharkiv region Oleg Synegubov said Moscow’s forces had launched eight missiles from Russian territory at around 0430 local time (0130 GMT) striking western and northern districts of the city.

In the southern Slobidskyi district, “one of the missiles hit a four-story dormitory. The building is partially destroyed. Preliminarily, two people died, 18 got injured, including 2 children. The detailed information is being clarified,” Synegubov said in a statement on social media.

AFP journalists on the scene saw the smoldering remains of several burnt out buildings and twisted wreckage of destroyed vehicles nearby.

Moscow’s forces had launched eight missiles.

Separately, he said, Russian missile attacks on the town of Krasnograd around 100 kilometers south west of Kharkiv had destroyed several residential buildings in strikes that left two civilians dead and two injured, including a 12-year-old.

Russian forces initially tried to capture Kharkiv early in their assault on Ukraine but were pushed back and have been shelling mostly northern residential districts of the city since.

Moscow claims Ukraine is storing military equipment near civilian infrastructure, a claim Ukraine denies.