A Russian airstrike hit a residential building and a playground in Kharkiv, Ukraine's northeastern city, on Friday, resulting in seven deaths and injuring at least 77 people, according to local officials.

Among the victims was a 14-year-old girl, confirmed by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, reported earlier that one child was killed while playing in the playground. The 12-story apartment building caught fire following the attack, and the death toll increased when a woman's body was found in the rubble, the mayor stated.

The attack, involving five guided bombs launched from Russia's Belgorod region, caused severe damage. The apartment block was heavily engulfed in black smoke and flames, with several cars parked outside also being destroyed. Emergency responders and volunteers worked quickly to evacuate survivors, with one victim's body being covered and left outside as police secured the area.

Kharkiv has experienced frequent Russian bombing throughout the conflict, though the intensity had decreased in recent weeks, possibly due to a recent Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region. The bombs used in the attack are sophisticated glide bombs, equipped with navigation systems that make them difficult to intercept, causing significant destruction.

Russia has denied intentionally targeting civilians, despite numerous casualties since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. In response to the Kharkiv attack, President Zelenskiy urged Western allies to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons to strike Russian military airbases. He argued that such strikes would be less likely if Ukrainian forces had the capability to target Russian aircraft directly.

Kyiv officials believe that addressing the threat of these advanced bombs requires targeting the aircraft launching them, rather than attempting to intercept the bombs themselves.

Russia’s Ongoing Struggle to Stop Ukraine’s Advance in the Kursk Region

Zelenskyy Bans Russian-Affiliated Church in Ukraine for Greater Independence

Zelensky Says War Has "Returned to Russia" in Independence Day Message