In brief
In a devastating escalation of violence, Russian airstrikes in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine have killed four people, including three young children aged one and two. The attacks have resumed following a week-long pause, intensifying the toll of ongoing warfare as civilian infrastructure continues to be targeted. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency amid the urgent humanitarian crisis.
Overnight Russian air strikes have killed at least four people, including three young children in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region, local officials have said.
Regional head Oleh Synegubov reported that two boys, both aged two, a one-year-old girl, and a 34-year-old man perished after a drone hit their home in the town of Bohodukhiv.
A 35-year-old pregnant woman and another 73-year-old woman sustained injuries in this attack.
This aerial assault comes as Moscow has renewed military strikes after a week-long pause requested by Donald Trump during a period of extreme cold across Ukraine.
Bohodukhiv has been subjected to near-daily bombardments, with previous strikes recently claiming the lives of a woman and a child on Monday.
In another incident, Russian forces dropped seven bombs on the city of Slovyansk, killing three, including an 11-year-old girl.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Moscow has significantly escalated its attacks on infrastructure, leading to severe energy crises amid record numbers of missiles being deployed.
A state of emergency regarding the energy situation has been declared for the Kharkiv region, following the end of a so-called 'energy truce' that had allowed for some respite during the cold snap.
As thousands of Ukrainians face power cuts, lack of heating, and insufficient access to water, discussions continue about potential negotiations aimed at bringing a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones have conducted a large-scale attack on Volzhsky in Russia, causing property damage but no fatalities reported so far.
These events highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis as a result of the protracted war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
}
