Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles against Ukraine on Saturday, killing at least 15 people and damaging dozens of residential buildings as well as energy infrastructure. The attacks targeted multiple cities, including Poltava, Kharkiv, and the border town of Sudzha, according to Ukrainian officials.
The worst attack occurred in Poltava, where a Russian missile struck a residential building, killing 11 people and wounding 16, including four children. Emergency crews worked late into the night to rescue those trapped in rubble.
In Kharkiv, one person was killed and four wounded in a drone attack, while three police officers were killed during attacks in a village in Sumy region. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attacks as “Russian terror” and called for more support from Western countries to defend against such threats.
US officials have said that Russia is likely using ballistic missiles in its strikes, given Ukraine’s limited air defense capabilities. The US wants Ukraine to hold elections by the end of the year, potentially with a truce with Russia, while Ukrainian president Zelenskyy has urged more talks between Kyiv and Washington on a ceasefire plan.
The UN has condemned the attack on Odesa port city that wounded at least seven people and damaged historic buildings. Moscow claims its forces are pressing in on key eastern Ukrainian city Toretsk, but the claim could not be confirmed.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/02/ukraine-war-briefing-russian-barrage-hits-ukrainian-residential-and-energy-sites-killing-at-least-15