KHARKIV, Ukraine – In an overnight drone attack on Friday, April 4, Russia launched a barrage of strikes on Ukraine, killing at least four people and injuring 35 others in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, regional officials reported. This was the fourth attack on the city within a week, with drones hitting residential areas, damaging multiple apartment buildings, and sparking several fires.

Throughout the night, rescue teams worked tirelessly, clearing debris and searching for survivors. Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated on Telegram that four people had died, with another body recovered from the rubble, and 35 others had sustained injuries. The Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that prosecutors were working to identify those killed, while also reporting that three of the injured were children. Ukraine’s air defense forces and mobile drone-hunting units managed to shoot down 42 out of 78 Russian drones overnight. An additional 22 drones were diverted using electronic warfare, according to the air force.

Kharkiv has been experiencing near-nightly drone attacks over the past week. Previous strikes targeted industrial sites and key infrastructure, reflecting the city’s continued vulnerability. In the early weeks of the February 2022 invasion, Kharkiv played a crucial role in repelling Russian troops advancing toward the capital, Kyiv. As Russian forces were pushed back from Kyiv, they redirected their focus to Ukraine’s eastern regions, making Kharkiv a frequent target of aerial bombardment.

Beyond Kharkiv, several other Ukrainian regions suffered damage from drone strikes. In Dnipro, three people were injured, and an infrastructure facility, along with administrative and residential buildings, was damaged. The Dnipropetrovsk governor reported that 13 drones had been intercepted overnight. The Kyiv capital region also saw drone attacks, leaving two people injured. Meanwhile, in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, at least seven drones struck various targets, injuring one person, according to the regional governor.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.