A massive overnight drone strike carried out by Russian forces targeted residential areas of Kharkiv, killing two civilians and injuring at least 60 others, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack took place in the early hours of June 11 and hit Slobidskyi and Osnovianskyi districts of the city.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed the deaths of a 65-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman. Among the wounded were at least nine children, with three hospitalized. Ukrainian emergency services reported fires in multiple apartment buildings and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, including private homes, vehicles, playgrounds, and a trolleybus depot.
In total, 17 direct strikes were recorded in various residential locations, causing structural damage to five-story apartment blocks, three private houses, and over a dozen cars. Several industrial facilities were also affected, including an active production plant.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine conducted evacuations from damaged buildings and worked overnight to extinguish fires and restore basic services. Regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov said the strikes damaged nine multi-story buildings and interrupted public transport in some areas of the city.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported that Russia launched approximately 85 Shahed-type drones during the night. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 40 of them, while another nine either malfunctioned or were decoys with no payload.
Mayor Terekhov stated that direct hits were recorded on homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. In a message shared on his Telegram channel, he said, “Kharkiv is Ukraine, and Kharkiv is unbreakable,” while rescue teams continued to search for people possibly trapped under the rubble.
The drone attack on Kharkiv was part of a broader wave of Russian strikes overnight, which also affected the Donetsk and Odesa regions. According to Ukrainian authorities, this was one of the most destructive drone assaults on Kharkiv in recent weeks.
photo: Ukrainian State of Emergency
