Russian Drones Kill Two Near Kharkiv as Attacks Hit Other Ukrainian Cities

Russian drone attacks killed two people near Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv overnight, while strikes on Kyiv and the central Poltava region damaged buildings and injured civilians, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday.

Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said the attack struck the settlement of Korotych, killing an 81-year-old woman and an 83-year-old man.

Another 11 people suffered acute stress reactions, including a two-month-old boy and an eight-year-old girl, according to the governor. All received medical assistance.

The attack damaged 13 private houses and a vehicle, while an outbuilding was destroyed by fire, authorities said. Emergency services were deployed to respond to the destruction and assist affected residents.

The overnight assault formed part of a wider series of Russian attacks reported across Ukraine.

In the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said a Russian airstrike hit a high-rise residential building and transport infrastructure, triggering fires. Authorities were assessing the damage as emergency personnel responded to the affected locations.

In the central city of Kremenchuk, in the Poltava region, a strike hit a university building, injuring two people, local officials reported.

The attacks came as diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine continued. US special envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway a day earlier.

A US official described the discussions between Witkoff and Zelenskyy as constructive, although the latest attacks underscored the continuing security challenges facing Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, and surrounding settlements have repeatedly come under Russian attacks because of their proximity to the Russian border. Civilian homes and other infrastructure have sustained damage during the prolonged conflict.

The latest deaths add to the civilian toll of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. Ukrainian authorities continue to report attacks on residential areas and essential infrastructure, while international diplomatic efforts to secure an end to the war remain ongoing.

There was no immediate independent verification of all the reported damage and casualty figures. The latest information on the Kharkiv attack was provided by Ukrainian regional authorities.