Russian Drone Assault On Kharkiv Injures 46 Civilians, Sparks International Outcry

On the evening of May 2, 2025, Russian forces launched a significant drone assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, resulting in injuries to at least 46 individuals, including an 11-year-old child. The attack ignited fires and caused extensive damage across 12 locations within four central districts of the city. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the strikes targeted residential areas, leading to widespread destruction and civilian casualties.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, emphasizing that there were no military targets in the affected areas. He criticized the international community for delays in providing adequate air defense systems, stating that such hesitations contribute to ongoing civilian suffering.

Emergency response teams worked through the night to manage the aftermath, despite concerns about potential subsequent strikes. In a separate incident, four individuals were injured in a combined drone and artillery attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Additionally, in the Kherson region, a civilian died when a drone detonated as he attempted to remove it from a residential area. Reuters

While Russia maintains that it does not intentionally target civilians, numerous attacks since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 have resulted in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.