A devastating Russian drone attack on a petrol station in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, resulted in the tragic deaths of seven individuals, including three children, and left nearly half of a street destroyed, local authorities reported.
Kharkiv regional governor Oleg Synegubov conveyed the heartbreaking news on the Telegram social network, revealing that an entire family of five perished in the blaze. The victims included a husband, wife, and their three young sons aged seven, four, and seven months. Tragically, the mother and children sought refuge in the bathroom while the father’s body was discovered in a passage within the house. One child remains missing.
Additionally, a 66-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife lost their lives in another house affected by the attack.
The assault, carried out by Russian forces utilizing Iranian-made Shahed drones, unleashed burning fuel onto nearby residences, compelling the evacuation of at least 50 individuals, according to Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov.
“The enemy’s Shaheds hit a petrol station, causing burning fuel to spill out burning 15 homes — or half the street,” Terekhov lamented.
Kharkiv regional prosecutor Oleksandr Filachkov disclosed that three drones targeted Kharkiv’s Nemyshlyanskyi district, resulting in the destruction of critical infrastructure, including a petrol station stocked with a significant amount of fuel, exacerbating the severity of the ensuing fire.
The deadly strike in Kharkiv follows a series of nighttime assaults in the city and a neighboring village. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched 31 attack drones overnight in the eastern Kharkiv and southern Odesa regions, with 23 drones successfully intercepted.
Amid escalating hostilities, NATO issued a call for Europe to bolster arms production to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities and mitigate potential prolonged confrontation with Moscow. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the urgent need to expedite industrial output to support Ukraine and replenish NATO’s own supplies.
As Western leaders rally for increased aid to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden urged US lawmakers to approve a long-awaited military assistance package for Ukraine, highlighting the imperative nature of such support in confronting Russia’s aggression.
Against the backdrop of mounting tensions, NATO defense ministers are set to convene in Brussels next Thursday, a week before the second anniversary of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, with discussions centered on fortifying defenses and enhancing support for Ukraine.
Sources By Agencies
