Russian Missile Strike on Kharkiv Apartment Building Kills at Least 10

A Russian missile strike on a residential apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, killed at least 10 people, including two children. The attack occurred overnight as part of a broader assault involving 29 missiles and 480 drones targeting energy facilities and other infrastructure across the country.

The missile hit a five-story residential building, causing significant damage and trapping residents under the rubble. Among the dead were a primary school teacher and her second-grade son, as well as an eighth-grader who died with her mother. Sixteen others were wounded in the attack, according to officials.

Emergency workers are still combing through the debris, searching for survivors. The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office has opened a war crimes investigation and identified the missile used as a new Russian cruise missile known as Izdeliye-30. This subsonic air-launched weapon has a range of 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and is equipped with advanced satellite navigation systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack and called for an international response to what he described as 'savage strikes against life.' He emphasized the need for continued support from partners, particularly in strengthening Ukraine's air defenses. The overnight assault was part of a larger pattern of Russian attacks using Iranian-designed drones and missiles.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian forces have reported territorial gains and defensive successes. Recent assessments indicate that Ukraine has retaken territory in southern regions and halted Russian advances towards strategic locations like Zaporizhzhia, home to Europe's largest nuclear power plant. These developments come as U.S.-brokered peace negotiations remain deadlocked.

According to preliminary data, air defense systems downed 19 missiles and 453 drones with hits from nine missiles and 26 strike drones recorded at 22 locations across the country. In the Kyiv region, damage from debris was reported in three districts, while in the southern Odesa region, 80 firefighters were called in to battle massive blazes at infrastructure facilities after an attack by drones.

Ukraine’s state rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia reported that damage to the rail infrastructure forced changes to several routes in the center-west of the country. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the overnight strike targeted Ukrainian military factories, energy facilities, and air bases.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the conflict during a speech at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida. He stated that 'hatred' between Russia and Ukraine is complicating efforts to reach a peace deal. Trump mentioned that both sides are experiencing significant losses, with reports indicating 25,000 to 31,000 deaths per month.