Russia Targets Kharkiv with Guided Bombs; Three Killed and 28 Injured

On Friday, May 17, Russia targeted the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine with guided bombs, killing at least three people and injuring 28. Ihor Terekhov, the regional mayor, announced this latest toll on Telegram, while earlier the governor had reported one death and stated that the condition of four of the injured was critical. Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, and its surrounding areas have long been the target of Russian attacks. Russian assaults have intensified in recent months, primarily targeting civilian and energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of seeking to destroy the city. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that the aim of these attacks is to create a 'buffer zone' and that Moscow has no plans to capture the city. Following Russian advances in the region, Zelensky canceled his foreign trips and went there to meet with senior military officials and oversee the war effort. On Thursday, May 16, Zelensky stated on Telegram that the situation in Kharkiv is 'difficult' but generally under control. In recent days, Russia has claimed to have captured several villages in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine. Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians, but thousands have been killed and injured during its 27-month invasion of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russian military assault on Ukraine, the United States and other NATO members have provided billions of dollars in weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Ukraine. The U.S. and its allies have also sanctioned thousands of individuals, companies, organizations, and entities in Russia in this context.