Kharkiv suffers its 'most powerful attack' of entire war, killing at least four, officials say

A view after a Russian attack that hit a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Credit: AP

Russia has bombarded Ukraine's second-largest city with drones and missiles, killing at least four people and injuring at least 24, local Ukrainian officials said.

The Russian barrage - the latest in near-daily, widescale attacks by Moscow - included deadly aerial glide bombs that have become part of fierce Russian attacks in the three-year war.

Kharkiv’s mayor Ihor Terekhov said the attack also damaged 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes. Citing preliminary data, he said Russia used 48 Shahed drones, two missiles and four aerial glide bombs in the attack.

Writing on Telegram, Terekhov said: "Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack since the start of the full-scale war.

“The enemy is striking simultaneously with missiles, (drones) and guided aerial bombs. This is outright terror against peaceful Kharkiv."

The intensity of the Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past weeks has further dampened hopes that the warring sides could reach a peace deal anytime soon days especially after Kyiv recently embarrassed the Kremlin with a surprising drone attack on military airfields deep inside Russia.

Firefighters tackle a blaze after a Russian attack that hit a residential building in Kharkiv. Credit: AP

Donald Trump said this week that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, told him Moscow would respond to Ukraine’s attack on Sunday on Russian military airfields.

Last week, Russian strikes hit six Ukrainian territories, killing at least six people and injuring about 80 others, Ukrainian officials said.

Among the dead were three emergency responders in Kyiv, one person in Lutsk and two people in Chernihiv.

Trump also said that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace.

Trump’s comments were a remarkable detour from his often-stated appeals to stop the war and signalled he may be giving up on recent peace efforts.

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