Russian Aggressors Launch Most Powerful Attack on Kharkiv Since Start of Year, Says Ihor Terekhov

Russian aggressors have executed their most powerful strike on Kharkiv since the beginning of 2023, unleashing a series of attacks that have become some of the most extensive seen throughout the duration of the ongoing war. This alarming update was shared by Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, on Friday, April 3. According to Terekhov, the enemy targeted the city with both ballistic missiles and drones, significantly complicating the situation for local authorities and residents.

"Overall, the current series of strikes has been among the most massive throughout the entire war and certainly the most severe since the start of the year... 37 hits have been recorded across 18 locations," Terekhov stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation that has unfolded in the city.

He also noted that Russian troops have for the first time employed combat drones to attack Kharkiv, which travel much faster than conventional drones. This development has resulted in critically reduced time for air defense operations and for residents to seek shelter, thereby increasing risks for the civilian population.

The situation in the city is extremely dire: according to Ihor Terekhov, the attacks have damaged 25 residential high-rise buildings and three non-residential structures. The Kyiv district was hit the hardest, with a direct strike recorded in an apartment located between the second and third floors. In one of the buildings alone, approximately 300 windows were shattered, indicating the force of the explosion.

In the Osnovyansky district, an office building suffered severe damage, with its roof completely burned off, while a powerful shockwave shattered windows in a nearby church. The New Bavar district also saw damage to private sector homes, raising concerns among local residents.

"The volume of emergency recovery work is simply staggering," the mayor stated, highlighting that the situation requires urgent response and resources for restoration.

Terekhov also underscored the cynicism of the occupiers' actions: "The most cynical part is that the occupiers regularly target the same locations. Just yesterday morning, the guys barely managed to patch up holes in one of the facilities, and by evening, it was hit again, forcing us to start all over again." This reflects the deliberate nature of the attacks, which inflict significant damage on the city’s infrastructure.

During the night and morning of April 2, the aggressor state, the Russian Federation, launched six strikes with Shahed drones on Kharkiv. At that time, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported five hits in the Kyiv district, noting that the Russians were targeting a critical infrastructure facility. Overall, on April 2, the enemy conducted at least 20 strikes on Kharkiv, indicating an escalation of aggression.

On the evening of April 1, Russian occupiers also struck a residential high-rise in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kharkiv with a Molniya combat drone, which sparked outrage and concern among residents.

Thus, the situation in Kharkiv remains critical, and the city's inhabitants continue to suffer from relentless attacks by the aggressor, necessitating urgent action from both the state and the international community.