A Russian missile attack on the city of Kharkiv killed at least two civilians, including a three-year-old boy, and wounded dozens of others, Ukrainian regional authorities reported on Saturday, 2 January 2026. The strike hit a multistorey residential apartment building, causing parts of it to collapse and triggering fires that hampered rescue efforts. Emergency crews worked through the night to search for survivors and pull people from the rubble.
The victims included the young boy and a woman believed to be his mother, according to officials. Reports indicate that between 25 and 31 civilians were injured, some in serious condition. The residential block sustained severe damage, leaving several families displaced. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said rescue operations continued into the early hours, with concerns that more victims may still be trapped. He described the strike as a deliberate attack on civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian authorities and city leaders condemned the attack and stressed the need for greater international support. Diplomatic responses from some countries reiterated calls for stronger pressure on Moscow to cease attacks on urban centers. Moscow, however, has repeatedly denied targeting civilians in Kharkiv, suggesting instead that some explosions are caused by detonating Ukrainian ammunition or accidental incidents — claims local officials reject.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and located near the Russian border, has endured repeated missile and drone attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Despite improved air defenses, civilian residential areas have frequently been hit, with multiple strikes in recent months causing deaths and widespread destruction.
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