Fatalities climb after Russian strike on Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy

Zaporizhzhia

Russian forces launched a morning strike on Zaporizhzhia, targeting civilian areas and critical infrastructure, according to regional authorities. The attack took place around 9 a.m., with the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov, reporting initial casualties and damage.

Within hours, it became clear that the strike involved two separate hits on the city. Emergency services pulled victims from the rubble, including a man with severe burns who later died. By midday, officials confirmed three people had been killed.

The number of injured has continued to rise throughout the day. As of the latest update, 3 civilians have been killed and 20 more people are receiving medical assistance. Among them are 18 patients with blast and shrapnel wounds, including a 17-year-old boy. Several are undergoing surgery, and doctors are fighting to save lives.

Fedorov stressed that the deliberate Russian attacks were aimed at the city’s infrastructure, leaving civilians to bear the brunt of the destruction.

Odesa

Russia attacked Odesa region with drones, Odesa Regional Military Administration head Oleh Kiper reported.

"Despite active air defense efforts, the strike caused damage in the Odesa district. A fire broke out at a fuel and energy facility and a two-story building in the suburbs of Odesa," he wrote.

The fire was quickly extinguished with the help of a firefighting train from Ukrzaliznytsia.

According to preliminary information, there are no casualties or injuries.

Kharkiv

Russia carried out a massive overnight attack on Kharkiv, first striking with ballistic missiles and later launching Shahed drones, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.

The initial missile strike hit the city’s Industrial District, damaging at least a dozen high-rise apartment buildings. Windows were blown out in multiple blocks, and the first reports confirmed several people injured, including children.

Hours later, Russian drones struck the same district. One Shahed slammed into a residential building, sparking large fires across several floors and causing parts of the structure to collapse. Rescuers warned that people could be trapped under the rubble.

The human toll mounted rapidly as emergency services worked through the night. A one-year-old child was among the first confirmed dead, and by morning officials reported at least five fatalities. Dozens of residents, including children as young as six, were injured by shrapnel, debris, or in the fires.

By early afternoon, the State Emergency Service confirmed that the number of people killed in Kharkiv had risen to seven, including two children. Another 33 people were injured, among them six children.

More than 140 rescuers, supported by heavy engineering equipment, continue to clear rubble and search for survivors. City authorities have declared a day of mourning to honor the victims.

Zelenskyy statement

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called today’s Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities "demonstrative and cynical", noting that Russia knows a meeting is taking place in Washington today that will address the end of the war.

“Everyone seeks dignified peace and true security. And at this very moment, the Russians are attacking Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, the Sumy region, and Odesa, destroying residential buildings and our civilian infrastructure. Russians are deliberately killing people, particularly children. As of now, seven people have been killed as a result of the drone strike in Kharkiv, the youngest being a girl who is only a year and a half old, and dozens have been injured, including children,” he said.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Putin deliberately kills to pressure Kyiv and Europe and to undermine diplomatic efforts.

“That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings. That is why reliable security guarantees are required. That is why Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war. The war must be ended. And it is Moscow that must hear the word: 'Stop,'” the president stressed.

Sumy region

Acting Mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, reported that Russia struck the city’s civilian infrastructure with a missile near an educational facility.

According to preliminary information, there are no casualties. The consequences of the attack are being clarified.

In addition, Sumy Regional Military Administration head Oleh Hryhorov said a Russian drone attacked a civilian car in the Myropillia community.

"As a result of another Russian attack this evening, a 43-year-old driver was injured. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors are providing necessary care. He will continue treatment as an outpatient," he noted.

As of 04:39 a.m., Russian forces attacked Sumy’s civilian infrastructure with four attack drones.

Hryhorov reported that the strikes caused a fire in a non-residential building. The threat of repeated attacks is complicating the response efforts.