KYIV – A devastating missile strike claimed the lives of at least seven individuals and left ten others injured, including three children, in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to official reports. The missile hit a five-story residential structure, marking another grim chapter in the ongoing conflict.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the assault, urging an international reaction. He revealed that Russia launched 29 missiles and 480 drones overnight, targeting energy facilities in Kyiv and central regions, causing widespread damage across at least seven locations throughout Ukraine.

Preliminary reports indicate that Ukraine’s air defense systems successfully intercepted 19 missiles and 453 drones. However, 9 missiles and 26 strike drones managed to hit 22 areas.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, emergency services were tirelessly sifting through the rubble in search of survivors.

Meanwhile, in the Kyiv region, debris inflicted damage across three districts, as confirmed by local authorities. In the southern Odesa region, a team of 80 firefighters was deployed to tackle extensive fires at infrastructure sites following a drone assault. The state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, announced that the destruction necessitated changes to several routes in the center-west of the nation.

“There must be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life,” Zelenskyy declared in a post on X. He emphasized that Russia continues its relentless attempts to destroy Ukraine’s residential and critical infrastructure and stressed the need for ongoing support. Zelenskyy expressed hope for active collaboration with the European Union to enhance protection for Ukrainian citizens, extending his gratitude to those aiding in strengthening the country’s defenses.

Russia has fired tens of thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones at Ukraine since it invaded its neighbor just over four years. It has launched a large-scale domestic production of them and battered Ukraine with hundreds of drones in a single night — more than were used during some entire months in 2024.

Iran has responded to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes by launching the same type of drones at countries in the Middle East.

Zelenskyy said he had received a U.S. request for support to defend against the Iranian drones in the Middle East and had given the order for equipment to be provided along with Ukrainian experts.

The war in the Middle East has drawn international attention away from Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II, and forced the postponement of a new round of U. S.-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine planned for this week.