Russian airstrikes hit Kharkiv highway, killing one, injuring several

Russian forces struck the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and its surrounding areas on the afternoon of December 26, using guided aerial bombs (KAB), killing at least one person and injuring several others, local authorities said.

The attack hit one of Kharkiv’s busiest highways in the Shevchenkivskyi district, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Multiple explosions were reported both in the city centre and in nearby suburbs. Several vehicles caught fire at the impact site, with people inside some of the cars, he said, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media. 

“One person has been confirmed dead and at least five others injured, one of them seriously,” Terekhov stated. He added that more than 20 residential buildings, including multi-storey and private homes, were damaged in the strike, with windows shattered and nearby structures affected by the blast.

Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said traffic on Klochkovska Street, a major thoroughfare, was temporarily blocked as emergency services worked at the scene.

By Sabina Mammadli