Kharkiv, Ukraine, was rocked by a devastating airstrike as Russian forces targeted a supermarket, killing two civilians and wounding 35 others. The Epicentre K store was reduced to rubble, its northern location offering no shelter from the deadly attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the devastating airstrike on the supermarket may have endangered the lives of over 200 people, who were believed to be inside the store at the time of the attack.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov took to social media platform Telegram to express his thoughts, stating: “A large number of people are missing. This is pure terrorism.”
President Zelensky added: “This strike on Kharkiv is another manifestation of Russian madness.
“Only madmen like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin are capable of killing and terrorising people in this way.”
A second strike in central Kharkiv on Saturday afternoon resulted in eight casualties, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. This attack has amplified the existing fears of Ukrainians, who are growing increasingly concerned about their nation’s air defense capabilities. President Zelensky has reaffirmed Ukraine’s urgent need for air defense systems from Western allies to protect its citizens from such attacks.
Read also: Bill For Prisoners To Join Army Passed By Ukraine Parliament
At an Italian summit, G7 finance ministers greenlit a novel approach: converting frozen Russian assets into a financial lifeline for Ukraine. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen praised the overwhelming support, clearing the way for a potential $50 billion loan to Kyiv, backed by Russian assets in Western banks, pending future discussions.
Russia’s latest attack on Kharkiv signals a worrying surge in confidence, as its forces seize a strategic window to press their advantage before Ukraine receives additional Western arms. The use of glide bombs, cheap but deadly, has become a hallmark of Moscow’s brutal tactics.
President Zelensky reported that Ukraine faced an unprecedented onslaught of 3,000 glide bombs in March, emphasizing the dire need for international support in the face of such overwhelming aggression.
The Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) revealed in a recent report that glide bombs were instrumental in Russia’s seizure of Avdiivka in February, demonstrating their capacity to tip the scales in favor of the aggressor.