Strikes Target Kyiv and Kharkiv
In the early hours of January 24, Russia launched a combined assault on the cities of Kharkiv and Kyiv, employing attack drones alongside a variety of missile types. The strikes resulted in civilian casualties and inflicted damage on critical infrastructure in both locations.
Impact in Kharkiv and Kyiv
In Kharkiv, the attacks struck the Industrial and Nemyshlyanskyi districts, using Iranian-made 'Shahed' attack drones. Several residential buildings were damaged, along with a dormitory for internally displaced persons, a hospital, and a maternity ward. Preliminary reports indicate at least 11 people were injured in Kharkiv.
Kyiv and the surrounding region were also targeted by Russian missile barrages. The weapons used included:
- 'Iskander' ballistic missiles
- 3M22 'Zircon' hypersonic missiles
- 9M727 cruise missiles
- Kh-32 missiles
The combined salvo involved approximately six 'Iskander' missiles, two 'Zircon' missiles, around two 9M727s, and roughly four Kh-32s, in addition to the drones. The consequences in Kyiv included fires, structural damage from falling debris, and disruptions to heating and water supplies on the city's left bank. One man was killed in the capital, with four others wounded, three of whom required hospitalization.
These strikes are part of Russia's ongoing, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year. The repeated targeting of civilian areas and critical infrastructure has drawn widespread international condemnation and underscores the urgent need for continued defensive support for Ukraine. Such attacks highlight the daily risks faced by the civilian population and the war's devastating human cost.