Number of casualties rises following Russian attack on Kharkiv: Details (photos)

Russia launched massive strikes on Kharkiv and its suburbs using UAVs, leaving at least five people injured and causing damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported.

According to rescuers, an enemy drone struck a nine-story residential building in the city’s Kyivskyi district. The explosion destroyed the top floor of the building. Vehicles parked nearby were also damaged.

Another drone exploded in an open area near a public transport stop. The blast wave damaged a passenger bus. A 100-square-meter dry vegetation fire broke out at one location and was quickly extinguished by emergency services.

«Enemy drones targeted emergency responders while they were dealing with the aftermath of the initial strike, but no personnel were injured,» the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said.

Repeated strikes damaged windows at an educational facility in the city, while large dry grass fires broke out in Kharkiv and surrounding areas, covering 800 and 500 square metres respectively.

Emergency crews from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, along with police, medics and municipal services, continue working at the scenes despite the ongoing threat of further strikes. The number of casualties is currently being clarified.