Russian Missile Strike in Kharkiv Claims Two Lives, Including Child

A missile strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, has resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including a three-year-old boy, while approximately 28 others have sustained injuries, according to local officials. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, targeting a multi-storey residential building, which was significantly damaged in the twin strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as 'heinous'.

Authorities reported that the bodies of a woman and the child were retrieved from the debris, with initial assessments indicating they may have been mother and son. President Zelensky expressed his outrage on social media, stating, 'Unfortunately, this is how the Russians treat life and people – they continue killing, despite all efforts by the world, and especially by the United States, in the diplomatic process.'

Among the injured, a six-month-old baby is included, and 16 of the injured individuals have been admitted to hospitals for treatment. The search and rescue operation is ongoing, with more than 80 volunteers actively engaged at the scene, as reported by Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor of Kharkiv.

In response to the incident, the Russian Defence Ministry denied any involvement in the attack, claiming instead that an explosion was caused by Ukrainian munitions detonating in the area. They stated via Telegram that their armed forces did not plan or execute missile strikes on Kharkiv. The ministry further suggested that footage from before the incident showed 'heavy smoke of unknown origin', which they cited as evidence of Ukrainian ammunition.

This incident follows shortly before significant peace talks are scheduled to take place in Kyiv, where representatives from around 15 countries, alongside European Union and NATO officials, are expected to convene. A United States delegation will participate in the discussions via video link. Subsequent meetings of the coalition are planned in France on 6 January.

Russia has also accused Ukraine of a separate drone attack that reportedly killed at least 27 individuals during a New Year's celebration in the southern Kherson region. These claims have not been independently verified by the BBC.

Ukrainian officials have stated that they will not directly respond to claims made by authorities in occupied regions of Ukraine, reaffirming their commitment to international humanitarian law and maintaining that their military actions are targeted exclusively at military objectives. In light of the missile strike, Russia's Investigative Committee has announced the initiation of an investigation into the incident, while the foreign ministry accused President Zelensky of attempting to intimidate populations in regions that have aligned with Russia following referendums.