11 Killed and Dozens Injured in Russian Attacks on Residential Areas in Ukraine

A Russian airstrike on a large tool store in a residential area of Kharkiv, Ukraine, left at least eleven dead and dozens injured. The governor of Kharkiv announced on Saturday, June 5, that two guided bombs hit the 'Epicenter' store in Kharkiv. Igor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, stated that about 120 people were present in the store at the time of the bomb explosions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again called on Western allies to assist in strengthening air defenses to keep the cities of his country safe in light of the Russian attacks. He further emphasized that the new Russian attack targeted a shopping center where many people were present, clearly constituting a 'terrorist act.' Reuters reports that one of the guided missiles that hit the residential area left a crater several meters deep in the pavement of a building housing a post office, a beauty salon, and a cafe. In recent days, Russia has significantly increased its attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his country's army is trying to create a buffer zone between occupied areas and Ukraine by capturing Kharkiv. With the occupation of parts of Kharkiv this month, Russia has made its largest territorial advance in Ukraine in the past 18 months. Mr. Zelensky condemned the attack on residential areas, stating that this action by the Kremlin is 'another example of Russia's madness' and is indescribable. He continued to assert that he tells world leaders that Ukraine needs sufficient air defense systems to protect its people. The Kremlin claims it does not target civilians, yet thousands of civilians have been killed in the attacks by the Kremlin's army on residential areas during the 27 months since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.