A Russian airstrike on an apartment block in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, has killed at least three people and injured 31 others, according to local officials. The attack, which took place on Tuesday, involved guided glide bombs and also hit other residential areas, intensifying fears as Russian forces advance in eastern Ukraine.
The high-rise building was previously damaged in an earlier strike but had been nearly repaired, with new windows installed and preparations made for the winter season. “The enemy hit it a second time with a KAB [glide bomb],” Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekov said in a statement on Telegram. The bomb left a large hole in the building, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, saying, “The targets for Russian bombs are a residential building, a bakery, a stadium… that is, the ordinary life of ordinary people.” He called for immediate international action to “stop the terror” while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, where he continues to press for more military aid to support Ukraine’s defense.
“There is much discussion now at the UN General Assembly about collective efforts for security and the future. But we just need to stop the terror. To have security. To have a future,” Zelensky said.
The use of glide bombs in the attack on Kharkiv underscores a worrying trend in Russia’s military strategy. These Soviet-era bombs, retrofitted with wings and satellite navigation, have become a key weapon in recent strikes, with analysts pointing to their use in attacks in both Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia over recent months. The bombs are seen as a cost-effective yet destructive tool, enabling Russian forces to target Ukrainian infrastructure with increased precision.
In a separate strike on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday night, Russia killed one person and injured at least four others, including two children. The attack comes amid intensified fighting in Ukraine’s east, with Russian troops making significant advances, particularly in Vuhledar, a coal-mining town on the Donbas front line.
Russian forces have been attempting to capture Vuhledar since the start of the full-scale invasion. Reports suggest that Moscow’s troops have now entered the outskirts of the town. Ukraine’s military acknowledged ongoing efforts by Russian forces to seize positions in Vuhledar, with Russian advances also noted near Hlyboke, Kupyansk, and Pokrovsk.
The war in Ukraine continues to escalate, with both sides vying for control as international diplomatic efforts intensify.
