Russia drops more deadly bombs on Kharkiv, Ukrainian attacks kill six people in Russia and Crimea

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian airstrike in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in Kharkiv, Ukraine, June 23, 2024. Photo: Vitalii Hnidyi/Reuters

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian authorities said six people died and more than 100 were injured in Ukrainian drone and missile attacks Sunday, marking the second day of Russian bombing of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, leaving at least one person dead.

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Among the dead were five people – including two children – who were hit by falling debris from Ukrainian missiles fired over a coastal area in Sevastopol, a port city in Russian-annexed Crimea, said Mikhail Razvozhaev, the city’s Moscow-appointed governor. Another person died in the town of Grayvoron in Russia’s Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, said the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov.

The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported, citing the Ministry of Health, that 124 people were injured in Sevastopol. Falling rocket fragments caused a forest fire of more than 150 square meters and set a residential building on fire, RIA Novosti reported. A fifth rocket exploded over the city.

The Russian Defense Ministry said both Ukraine and the United States were “responsible for a targeted missile attack on civilians.” It said the Ukrainian attack used ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States.

Razvozhayev declared Monday a day of mourning in Sevastopol and cancelled public events.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that air defenses shot down 33 Ukrainian drones overnight over the western Russian regions of Bryansk, Smolensk, Lipetsk and Tula. No casualties or damage were reported.

A new attack on Kharkiv on Sunday killed at least one person and injured 11, according to local authorities. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city was attacked with a guided bomb and about half of Kharkiv was without electricity as a result of the attack.

READ MORE: A Russian attack on the power grid in Ukraine has led to ongoing power outages

Sunday’s attacks came after Russia struck Kharkiv with four aerial bombs on Saturday afternoon, hitting a five-story residential building and killing three people. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said 41 people were still being treated for injuries on Sunday.

In a video address after the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Ukraine’s partners to strengthen their air defenses.

“Modern air defense systems for Ukraine – such as Patriots, accelerated training of our pilots for the F-16 and, most importantly, sufficient range of our weapons – are really necessary,” he said.

Two people were injured by falling debris when two Russian missiles were fired over the Kyiv region during the night, said Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshuk.

The regional governor of Ukraine’s partially occupied Donetsk region, Vadym Filashkin, said two people were killed and four injured in Saturday’s Russian attacks.

In addition, the Ukrainian Navy released photos on Sunday that it said confirmed the destruction of a warehouse in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar that was used to launch and store Iranian-designed Shahed drones.

Navy officials said instructors and cadets were killed in the attack on Friday evening. Moscow has not yet commented on the reports, but officials said air defenses shot down several drones in the area on Friday evening.

Morton reported from London.

Left:
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian airstrike in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in Kharkiv, Ukraine, June 23, 2024. Photo: Vitalii Hnidyi/Reuters