Ukraine (KYIV): Four people died when Russian forces fired drones at two apartment buildings and a power plant in Kharkiv the second-largest city in Ukraine on Thursday, according to local authorities. This was reportedly part of the Kremlin’s strategy to intensify the bombardment of civilian areas in the coming months of war.
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In Kharkiv, close to the Russian border—a city that has been repeatedly targeted for more than two years of fighting—two apartment complexes were struck by Shahed drones. The power grid was the target of other drones.
In recent months, the forces of the Kremlin have increased the intensity of their aircraft bombardments of Ukraine, targeting cities. Although the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line is essentially at a standstill, officials in Kyiv claim that Moscow’s forces have been scouring the front line for Ukrainian vulnerabilities in anticipation of an anticipated massive Russian onslaught in the summer.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia’s increased strikes on Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure and residential areas may be an attempt to force the country’s army to position its air defense systems farther from the front lines. They stated that this would enable Russia to provide its ground forces on the battlefield with stronger air cover.
Ukrainian forces are waiting for the delivery of crucial new military supplies from their Western allies. Yet, Russian forces appear to have escalated the scope of their motorized ground assaults in certain areas of the front line in recent weeks in an attempt to gain an advantage.
According to a senior U.S. official, Russia has brought its forces back to nearly full strength with China’s assistance.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated on Wednesday, “We have assessed throughout the last couple of months that Russia has almost completely reconstituted militarily.”
Losses are Unimaginable
According to local authorities, Russia targeted a multistory building in Kharkiv twice in short succession, killing three first responders. There were six injuries at the site. A 69-year-old lady died when a drone struck another 14-story structure.
Previously, Ukrainian officials have charged that Russia targets rescue personnel by firing two successive missiles against residential buildings. According to them, the first intended to entice rescue crews to the area and the second to kill them. In military parlance, the maneuver is referred to as a “double tap.” In Syria’s civil conflict, the Russians employed a similar tactic.
The violence has also injured other first responders. The WHO stated on Thursday that there is a significant chance of harm or death for personnel who transport patients.
According to a WHO report, “emergency teams come under fire either on the way to a call or at their bases.”
Reactions from the International Community
The report stated Dr. Emanuele Bruni, WHO’s incident manager in Ukraine, stated, “This is a horrifying pattern.” “These attacks further devastate communities that have been living under constant shelling. It’s been more than two years, putting their safety at risk.”
General Staff says, 11 out of the 20 drones deployed against Ukraine throughout the night were shot down.
According to the Ministry of Energy on Thursday, Russia also attacked energy infrastructure in the areas of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk. This injured two persons.
After a missile attack struck the thermal power plant in Kharkiv last week, around 700,000 residents lost electricity. The work is still being done.
The attack was met with a comment on Telegram from Dmytro Lubinets, the head of Ukraine’s human rights department. According to him, “Every manifestation of Russian terror once again proves that the country-terrorist deserves only one thing — a tribunal.”
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