The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest, endured a brutal nine-minute drone assault on Wednesday, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Ukrainian officials reported a tragic toll: six lives lost and 64 injured, including nine children. This harrowing attack represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

The barrage follows two of the largest air assaults on Ukraine this week, part of an intensified Russian campaign of bombardments. Moscow claims these attacks are retaliatory measures in response to recent Ukrainian operations within Russian territory.

The relentless assault continued into Thursday morning with a new wave of drone attacks targeting four city districts. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported one drone impacting a school courtyard, shattering windows. Thankfully, no further casualties or significant damage were reported from this subsequent attack.

This latest incident underscores the ongoing danger faced by Ukrainian civilians and the devastating consequences of the intensifying conflict.