(Reuters) – A Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, killed six civilians and wounded 10 on Saturday morning, regional officials said.
Ukraine’s national police said the attack was launched by drones. He posted images of fires breaking out in city streets and next to buildings.
“As of this morning there are 6 dead and 10 injured as a result of the night strike in Shevchenkivskyi district,” Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on the Telegram messaging application.
“The attack hit residential areas: at least nine skyscrapers, three dormitories, several administrative buildings, a shop, a gas station, a gas station and cars were damaged,” he said.
The strike occurred shortly after midnight, news reports said.
The Ukrainian military said on Facebook (NASDAQ:) that its air defenses destroyed 28 of 32 drones and three of six missiles launched by Russia.
Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, has been a frequent target by the Russians, with attacks intensifying in recent weeks. On Wednesday, a drone attack on the city killed four people and severely damaged apartment buildings.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, told Politico newspaper in an interview published Thursday that he sees Kharkiv as the most likely target for any new Russian offensive in May or June.
Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov reported a strike in a residential building and a rocket attack in a village north of the city of Kharkiv. No casualties were reported in either incident.
Air raid warnings remained in place for Kharkiv and much of the country, including the capital Kiev, for several hours after the attacks.