Nine people sustained injuries during overnight Russian attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to local authorities.
“Amongst the injured are women in a maternity ward,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram, noting that no children were harmed. He accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilians in the assault.
Zelensky further reported strikes in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Odessa earlier Friday morning. He stressed the importance of strengthening air defences, warning that Russia would continue its campaign using bombs, missiles, and drones.
The conflict has seen daily and nightly exchanges of fire from both sides. A United Nations report released just a day earlier revealed that civilian deaths from Russian bombardments in June reached their highest monthly toll in three years.
In its countermeasures, Ukraine continues to target sites deep within Russian territory. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that 155 Ukrainian drones were shot down.
Dmitry Milyaev, governor of Russia’s Tula region, reported one fatality and one injury resulting from drone strikes. Local media suggested the attacks targeted a district housing three arms factories. Tula is known for its defence manufacturing.
Additionally, a drone factory in Dubna, near Moscow, was reportedly hit. However, details on the extent of damage were not immediately available.
(dpa/NAN)