UKRAINE – Fresh images from Ukraine have laid bare the stark reality of life nearly two years into Russia’s invasion after Putin‘s missiles struck civilian centres in brutal overnight strikes.
Victims Hit
One elderly woman was seen standing inside an ambulance, her face a crimson mask after being hit by shrapnel.
Sporting nothing more than heavy bandaging for her wounds, a beige coat spattered with blood and a pair of snow-covered slippers, she clutched at a small canvas bag – likely all that remains of her possessions after the bombs fell.
More Destruction
Other shocking pictures showed demolished buildings and cars reduced to twisted hunks of charred metal as firefighters and rescuers worked feverishly to free civilians trapped underneath the dust and debris of their homes in temperatures of -7 degrees Celsius.
The Russian missile attack, which killed at least six people, came after Moscow shunned any deal backed by Kyiv and its Western allies to end the nearly two-year-old war.
What Officials Said
The barrage included more than 40 ballistic, cruise, anti-aircraft and guided missiles, officials said. Ukraine’s air force said it could only intercept 21 of them.
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In Kharkiv, in northeast Ukraine, the onslaught killed five and injured 48, including four minors, as the missiles damaged around 30 residential buildings and shattered hundreds of apartment windows in icy weather, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said.
What Russia Attacked With
Russia used S-300, Kh-32 and hypersonic Iskander missiles in the attack, he said.
An entire section of a multistory residential building was destroyed, trapping an unknown number of people there, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.