Kharkiv Endures Worst Attack of the War as Russia Unleashes New Wave of Strikes on Ukraine

Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv was rocked early Saturday by what local officials are calling the most powerful Russian assault since the full-scale invasion began, leaving at least three people dead and dozens more injured. The devastating attack followed one of Moscow’s largest aerial offensives of the war just the night before.

“Outright Terror”: Kharkiv Pummeled by Missiles, Drones, and Bombs

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the scene as nothing short of catastrophic. “Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack since the start of the full-scale war,” he said via Telegram. The city, just 30 km (19 miles) from the Russian border, was hit by at least 40 explosions, with Russia launching a combination of missiles, drones, and guided bombs.

Fires broke out in multiple neighborhoods, including a multi-story apartment building in the Osnovyanskyi district, where two people were killed. A third person died after a strike on a home in the Kyivskyi district. Emergency crews scrambled to rescue survivors trapped beneath rubble.

Among the wounded were a 14-year-old girl and a 1.5-month-old baby, the latter suffering from acute stress, according to regional prosecutors.

Residents Recount Horror

Local resident Ruslana Sheveleva described how a neighboring home was struck, killing a young man instantly. “The house was hit, right where he was lying,” she said. “His mother was dug out from under the rubble. His father barely made it out alive.”

Another resident, Iryna Ivanenko, recalled a desperate attempt to save her 26-year-old daughter, who was trapped under a slab of concrete. “I tried to lift the slab, but it was impossible,” she said. Her daughter was later pulled out by firefighters.

Russia Claims Military Targets Hit — Ukraine Calls It Terror

While Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it struck only military facilities in a “high-precision” operation, Ukraine has accused Moscow of continuing a campaign of civilian terror. More than 50 drones, four aerial bombs, and at least one missile were used in the attack, which also damaged a music school and administrative building in Kharkiv.

“Russia continues its terror against civilians,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, urging the international community to ramp up pressure on Moscow.

Ongoing Violence: Over 7 Dead Across Ukraine in 24 Hours

Since Friday morning, Russian strikes have reportedly killed at least seven people and injured more than 40 across Ukraine, according to figures from local authorities compiled by CNN.

Prisoner Exchange Stalls Amid New Accusations

Amid the escalating violence, tensions rose further Saturday over a planned prisoner-of-war swap and the repatriation of bodies.

Russia claimed Ukraine abruptly postponed the exchange and failed to show up at the agreed location. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky said Moscow had already transported 1,212 frozen bodies of Ukrainian soldiers and prepared a list of 640 POWs for exchange.

But Ukraine pushed back, accusing Russia of “playing dirty games.” Its Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said the lists provided by Russia did not match agreed terms and that Ukraine had already submitted its own list of seriously wounded and ill servicemen.

Though both sides acknowledge an agreement in principle on the return of fallen soldiers, no timeline has been set.

Ukraine Downs Russian Fighter Jet

In a rare win, Ukraine’s air force claimed it shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet during a successful operation near the Kursk region. A Russian military blogger acknowledged the loss but said the pilot had been rescued. Moscow has not issued an official comment.

A Retaliatory Wave

The attack on Kharkiv came just a day after Russia launched a massive wave of drones and ballistic missiles across Ukraine — widely seen as a retaliation for a daring Ukrainian drone strike earlier in the week that disabled more than one-third of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.

The scale and timing of the response raised concerns of further escalation. Speaking aboard Air Force One Friday, former U.S. President Donald Trump commented, “They gave Putin a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night,” suggesting the Ukrainian drone attack may have provoked Russia’s fury.

Trump had reportedly spoken with President Vladimir Putin just days before the onslaught.

As the war grinds on, the latest strikes offer a stark reminder of the high human cost and the ever-present threat of escalation — with no clear end in sight.