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Russia Launches Most Intense Airstrike on Kharkiv Since Start of Full-Scale Invasion

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Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
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A large fire engulfs the upper floors of a residential building in Kharkiv following a Russian drone strike. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)
A large fire engulfs the upper floors of a residential building in Kharkiv following a Russian drone strike. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

On the night of June 7, Russia carried out its most extensive aerial attack on Kharkiv since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, using a combination of drones, guided bombs, and a missile. According to Ukrainian officials, at least three civilians were killed and 21 injured, including two children.

Scale of the attack

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed that over 50 explosions were recorded within 90 minutes during the night. The Russian strike involved 53 Shahed-type drones, four guided aerial bombs (KABs), and one missile, reportedly a Kh-35.

According to the Kharkiv Regional Administration, the attacks targeted multiple districts, including the Kyivskyi and Osnovianskyi areas, as well as the city outskirts. Civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and an educational institution were among the sites hit.

Damage to infrastructure

The airstrike resulted in fires and structural damage across the city. In the Kyivskyi district, a civilian industrial facility was hit by 40 drones, four KABs, and a missile, triggering a fire that spread over 10,000 square meters and affected four production buildings. Rescue services indicated that people might be trapped under the rubble.

Drone impacts were also recorded at several private residences, causing fires, and in the Osnovianskyi district, a drone strike ignited 12 apartments across the top floors of a nine-story building. Emergency services rescued a woman from the debris, and multiple vehicles were destroyed by fire.

A crisis psychologist comforts a resident near the site of a damaged apartment block in Kharkiv. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)
A crisis psychologist comforts a resident near the site of a damaged apartment block in Kharkiv. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

In total, 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes sustained damage, with five buildings reporting compromised structural integrity. The city council reported that 884 windows, 187 balcony panels, 13 roofs, and 13 entrance doors were damaged.

Casualties

The Kharkiv City Council confirmed three fatalities. Two of the deceased were women whose bodies were found under the rubble of a residential building. One of the victims was identified by a tattoo; the second will be identified via DNA analysis, according to local law enforcement.

Among the injured are a 14-year-old girl and a 1.5-month-old infant. Two police officers were also reported among the wounded. Emergency services and over 300 police personnel were deployed to manage the aftermath and clear debris.

Ukrainian emergency workers search through the charred remains of a destroyed apartment after the strike, where victims were found under the rubble. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)
Ukrainian emergency workers search through the charred remains of a destroyed apartment after the strike, where victims were found under the rubble. (Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

The June 7 strike marked the largest and most complex attack on Kharkiv to date, involving a combination of drones, bombs, and a missile, targeting civilian infrastructure across multiple districts. Authorities continue search and rescue operations, while investigations are underway into the extent of the damage and casualties.

Earlier, on June 6, Russia launched its largest air assault of the war, firing 452 aerial weapons—including nearly 400 Shahed drones—across every region of Ukraine. Despite Ukrainian defenses intercepting over 400 targets, strikes hit 13 locations, killing four civilians and injuring around 30.

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