Kyiv (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A Russian missile attack claimed the lives of five civilians and injured 55 in the town of Izium in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv area, partially damaging the city council building, officials stated.
Governor Oleh Syniehubov stated a Russian ballistic missile struck the building in the town’s central district. Three minors were among the wounded, who also included many local administration and social services workers, he stated.
In his remarks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said,
This brutality cannot be tolerated. Maximum pressure must be applied to Russia – through military force, sanctions, and diplomacy – to stop the terror and protect lives.
How is Russia targeting Ukraine with missiles and drones?
Ukraine has faced mass devastating missile and drone attacks for the past two months from Russia. The military campaign by the Russian forces entailed a high-intensity, large-scale assault conducted by drone and missile strikes where over 40 missiles and 123 drones targeting residential areas as well as various energy facilities throughout Ukraine were released.
Moreover, on February 2, 2025, a Russian airstrike hit a residential building in central Ukraine, with at least 14 killed, including two children. This airstrike was among a wider weekend offensive as Russia targeted multiple regions. Extensive residential areas were attacked, adding further strains to an already struggling energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector throughout January into the early part of February, causing significant disruptions in power supplies and forcing rolling blackouts throughout the country. According to reports by the Ukrainian military, the service intercepted many drones and missiles. Still, it acknowledged that many of them continued to hit their targets, leading to civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.