On Wednesday, the city of Kharkiv, located in northeastern Ukraine, was targeted by aerial bombs for the first time since 2022, reported by local officials. The attack led to the death of at least one civilian and injured 16 others, while causing damage to residential buildings and a medical institute. The increased frequency of Russian attacks on Ukraine, including missile strikes on Kyiv and assaults on energy infrastructure, appears to be a retaliatory measure for Ukrainian aerial operations in the Belgorod region of Russia.
Kharkiv, situated near the frontline of the ongoing conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces, has been a frequent target of missile and drone strikes since the full-scale invasion by Moscow in February 2022. The use of aerial bombs in this latest attack was confirmed by Sergey Bolvinov, head of Kharkiv’s investigative police department, and regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. These developments occur amidst reports of Ukrainian forces facing challenges due to personnel and ammunition shortages, along with intensified Russian military pressure.
In response to the evolving security situation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made changes to his security officials. Oleksii Danilov was removed as the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, with Oleksandr Lytvynenko, the former head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, taking his place. This reshuffle follows the dismissal of Ukraine’s chief military officer, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, earlier in the year.
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