Kharkiv Under Fire: Missile Strike Escalates Pressure for Peace Talks

In a fresh escalation, a ballistic missile fired by Russia struck a residential area in Kharkiv, leaving at least 11 people injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack comes amidst U.S. pressures for a swift peace deal, aiming to end the war initiated by Moscow.

Local authorities in Kharkiv reported that the injured include a 13-year-old girl, emphasizing the continued vulnerability of civilians in Ukraine's second-largest city. Kharkiv, near the Russian border, has faced incessant drone and missile strikes since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Meanwhile, in the Sumy region, a guided aerial bomb, purportedly Russian, wounded a 57-year-old woman and caused considerable damage to homes and an educational building.

Despite witnessing the aftermath, Reuters could not independently verify the weaponry used by Russia. As both conflicting sides deny specifically targeting civilians, international parties, including a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, are pushing for an expedited resolution to the deadly conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)