Five civilians were killed and dozens injured on Monday following a wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, as Moscow escalated its campaign against civilian infrastructure and residential areas.
According to Ukrainian officials, the deadliest attack occurred in Balakliya, Kharkiv region, where three people lost their lives and at least 13 others were wounded, including four children. The strike destroyed a kindergarten and damaged several Soviet-era apartment blocks, leaving families trapped under rubble. Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, condemned the assault, describing it as “inhuman and unjustifiable.”
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two more civilians were killed in a separate strike that damaged homes and disrupted local utilities. Emergency services rushed to the scene to rescue survivors and provide medical care to the injured.
The latest attacks come as Russia intensifies its use of drones and missiles, targeting both energy infrastructure and civilian sites. Analysts warn that the strategy is designed to weaken Ukraine’s resilience ahead of winter, raising fears of widespread blackouts and humanitarian crises.
International observers have condemned the strikes, noting that repeated attacks on non-military targets could constitute war crimes under international law. Ukrainian authorities continue to urge allies for stronger air defense systems to protect vulnerable regions from daily bombardments.
The strikes underscore the growing human toll of the war, with children among the wounded and schools destroyed. As winter sets in, Ukraine faces mounting challenges in safeguarding its population from both physical destruction and energy shortages.
