An overnight Russian attack on an apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed two people, as Moscow continues its relentless strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The assault on the high-rise in the Saltivskyi district claimed the lives of a 50-year-old man and a 66-year-old man, according to Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov, who posted on Telegram. At least 21 people were wounded, and photos from the scene showed a gaping hole spanning four storeys, with thick smoke billowing into the night sky.
The violence extended across the country. In the southern Kherson region, Russian artillery killed a 61-year-old woman in the Berislavsky district early Sunday, the regional prosecutor's office reported. In Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region, an attack near a shopping mall wounded nine people, including four children, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, describing it as "absolutely wicked." Zelenskyy also reported strikes on the Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions.
The Ukrainian air force said Russian forces launched a barrage of ballistic, anti-ship, and anti-radar missiles overnight, along with more than 200 Shahed drones. Missile and drone attacks were recorded at 22 locations, with remnants of downed missiles found at six sites. In Russia, the TASS news agency reported that Ukrainian drone attacks killed three civilians overnight in Belgorod, underscoring the conflict's cross-border nature.
The southwestern Odesa region, a frequent target, faced renewed attacks. Russian forces allegedly struck fuel, lubricants, and military equipment depots in Odesa's port, according to TASS. Zelenskyy said the attacks targeted Odesa's energy sector, with repair work underway to restore power. At least eight people were injured as residential buildings and the port sustained damage. "This is, in particular, how Russia is systematically waging war against global food security," the Ukrainian leader said, referring to the port's critical role in grain exports. Attacks on the port killed 28 people in the first three weeks of July alone, Governor Oleh Kiper previously stated.
Meanwhile, Russia struck two oil refineries in the northeastern Sumy region, according to Reuters. The ongoing assaults on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities and ports, have raised international concern over the humanitarian toll and the broader implications for global food supplies. The Ukrainian government continues to appeal for increased military aid and air defense systems to counter the persistent aerial threats.
Source: www.aljazeera.com