Large-scale destruction has been reported in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and surrounding regions following a series of drone and missile strikes launched by Russia. According to local officials, the targeted attacks have left approximately 80% of the city and the broader region without electricity.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, confirmed the extent of the damage via a video message on his Telegram channel, noting that at least two people were injured during the strikes.
"Our energy system has come under attack and sustained quite serious damage. All emergency crews are working to eliminate the consequences as quickly as possible," Syniehubov stated.
The governor further emphasized that the ongoing threat of additional air raids is complicating repair efforts. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that an energy facility was specifically targeted at a time when temperatures had plummeted to minus 14 degrees Celsius. A school building was also significantly damaged during the bombardment.
Footage shared on social media shows the city, located just 30 kilometers from the Russian border, plunged into total darkness with visible structural damage to residential buildings. Simultaneously, a drone attack was recorded in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's military administration, reported that a strike on a multi-story residential building caused a fire, though residents were successfully evacuated.
Kharkiv has remained a primary target for Russian forces since the beginning of the full-scale invasion due to its strategic location and proximity to the border. The city has frequently faced infrastructure challenges as a result of systematic strikes on its power grid, which Ukrainian officials describe as an attempt to weaponize the winter cold against the civilian population. International observers note that such attacks on critical energy infrastructure often lead to humanitarian crises in urban centers during sub-zero temperatures.
