Ukraine says at least 25 wounded in Russian strike on Kharkiv housing area

Summary

• A Russian strike on Kharkiv residential buildings on January 2nd wounded 19 people, including a six-month-old baby.
• The attack followed Russia's accusation of a Ukrainian strike on a hotel and cafe in occupied south Ukraine, killing 27.
• President Zelensky called the Kharkiv attack "heinous," stating it exemplifies Russia's disregard for life despite global efforts.

KHARKIV, Ukraine - A Russian strike Jan 2 on residential buildings in the major Ukrainian city of Kharkiv wounded at least 25 people, Ukrainian officials said.

The attack came a day after Russia accused Kyiv of a strike on a hotel and a cafe
in Khorly in Ukraine’s occupied south, killing 28 people, and warned of “consequences” – but Ukraine said the attack targeted a military gathering that was closed to civilians.

Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov initially said on Telegram after Russia’s attack on Jan 2 that “a total of 19 people suffered blast injuries, glass wounds, and abrasions”, adding that a six-month-old baby was among them.

He later told Ukrainian TV, according to Reuters, that 25 people had been injured, with 16 in hospital, including a woman in serious condition. He said preliminary information showed two ballistic missiles had struck the area.

AFP images from the site of the strike showed damaged multi-storey buildings, piles of smouldering rubble, and firefighters tackling the blaze.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack “heinous” and said on social media that “preliminary reports indicate two missiles struck an ordinary residential area”.

“Unfortunately, this is how the Russians treat life and people – they continue killing, despite all efforts by the world, and especially by the United States, in the diplomatic process,” he added.

Russia’s defence ministry rebutted Ukraine’s claim it was behind the attack, saying its forces “did not plan or carry out strikes using missiles or air strikes within the city limits of Kharkiv”.

It blamed Ukraine for trying “to distract international attention from the brutal terrorist attack against civilians” in Khorly.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed, eastern Ukraine has been devastated and millions have been forced to flee their homes since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. AFP