Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent
Watch: Firefighter fight flames after Karkiv’s apartment struck by Russian strike
The Russians launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine’s second largest city, saying Mayor Kharkiv has killed at least three people and injured 40 more.
Ihor Terekhov said that in what Russia described as “open terrorism,” Russia fired 48 drones, two missiles and four gliding bombs.
It comes after a massive wave of drones and missiles that hit Ukraine on Thursday night. Moscow said the strike was in response to a “terrorist attack by the Kiev regime” following the shocking Ukraine attack on Russian air bases last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian officials have released conflicting explanations as to when the prisoners exchange agreed in previous consultations will take place.
About 18 apartments and 13 homes in Harkiff were attacked overnight during the attack on Friday, according to the mayor. The baby and a 14-year-old girl were among the injured, he added.
One civilian industrial facility was attacked by 40 drones, one missile and four bombs, Governor Kharkiv Olevshinivbov added that there could still be people buried under the roof rubber.
Local authorities said two people were also killed in the Russian strike in Herson, southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sibikh urged his allies to increase pressure on Moscow and “take more steps to strengthen Ukraine” in response to Russia’s latest attacks.
Six people were killed and 80 injured across Ukraine the night before Russia attacked the country with more than 400 drones and nearly 40 missiles.
Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelensky said the strike at Khalkiv “has no military meaning” and was “pure terrorism.”
He said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was to “buy time to continue the war” and “has to put pressure on him” to stop the attack.
At the latest in-person meeting held in Istanbul earlier this week, the two warring parties agreed to exchange all the bodies of people under the age of 25, as well as 12,000 soldiers, and all seriously injured prisoners.
Vladimir Medinsky, the chief negotiator at the Moscow meeting, claimed on Saturday that Ukraine “unexpectedly postponed both the acceptance of bodies and the exchange of indefinite prisoners.”
He further alleged that the bodies of more than 1,000 murdered Ukrainian soldiers were taken to an agreed exchange point, but Ukrainian officials did not arrive.
A list of 640 prisoners was also handed over to Ukraine “to begin the exchange,” Medynsky wrote on social media.
Ukrainian officials responded angrily to the allegations, telling Russia to “stop playing dirty games.”
Reuters
The mayor of Kharkiv said 18 apartments and 13 homes were attacked overnight
A statement from Ukraine’s Pows Office coordination said the comments “does not correspond to real or previous agreements.”
The coordination headquarters said both sides had been working on preparing for the exchange over the past week, claiming that Russia has not stuck to the agreed parameters of the swap.
Ukraine submitted its POW list according to the “clearly defined categories” of the transaction, but added that Russia has submitted “alternative lists that do not correspond to the agreed approach.”
According to Ukraine, an agreement has been reached regarding the repatriation of the bodies, but no date has been set, and Russia has implemented “uncoordinated unilateral measures.”
The barrage of the past two nights comes after Ukrainian drones targeted Russian strategic war planes at four air force bases deep in Russia.
Ukrainian security services SBU said at least 40 Russian aircraft were struck during the so-called “Operation Spiders Web” last Sunday.
Ukraine says it uses 117 drones first smuggled into Russia, then placed inside a wooden cabin mounted on the back of the truck, hidden under a remotely controlled removable roof.
The truck appears to have been forced into a location near a Russian air base by a driver who appears to be unaware of the cargo. The drone was then launched remotely.
On Saturday, Ukraine released more footage from its attack – showing the entire flight of a single drone.
US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Ukrainians gave Putin “they gave him a reason to bomb and bomb hell last night.”
He previously said during the phone call Putin had told him “very strong” and that Moscow “must respond” following the attack on the Ukrainian airfield.
Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimea Peninsula, which was annexed in 2014.
Peace negotiations between the two sides have not been able to secure a ceasefire until now, and both sides remain deeply divided on how to end the war, with Ukraine pushing for an “unconditional ceasefire” as their first step, and Russia repeatedly refused.
Additional reports by Jaroslav Lukiv and Vitaliy Shevchenko
Watch: Drone footage of what Ukraine said shows attack on Russian airfield
