A young mother and her toddler son have been killed after Russian ballistic missiles struck a residential apartment block in north-eastern Ukraine.
Attack on a Residential Tower
The bodies of the 22-year-old woman and her three-year-old boy were recovered from the rubble of the tower block in the city of Kharkiv. The strike, which occurred on Wednesday, January 3, also left at least 30 people injured, including a six-month-old baby boy.
Footage from the scene showed thick smoke billowing from the ruins of the building as emergency crews and volunteers worked through the debris in a desperate search for survivors. The Kharkiv Regional Military Administration confirmed the building was destroyed by the missile attack.
International Condemnation and Russian Denial
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labelled the assault 'heinous' in a post on social media platform X. He accused Russia of continuing its campaign of killing despite diplomatic efforts led by the United States.
'This is how the Russians treat life and people,' President Zelensky wrote. 'They continue killing, despite all efforts by the world, and especially by the United States, in the diplomatic process.'
In a contradictory statement, Russia's defence ministry suggested the explosion was caused by Ukrainian ammunition detonating. They claimed the reports from Kharkiv were an attempt to divert attention from a Ukrainian strike on a hotel in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region on New Year's Eve.
Diplomatic Moves Amid the Tragedy
The attack comes just days before a crucial 'coalition of the willing' summit scheduled for Tuesday in Paris. The conference, involving 35 nations including Britain, Ukraine, and France, will focus on strategies to halt further Russian advances into Europe.
While former US President Donald Trump is not participating in the talks, a US delegation will join via video link. America remains the chief broker in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Mr Trump recently voiced criticism of Vladimir Putin, stating he was 'not thrilled' with the Russian leader because 'he's killing too many people.'
The tragedy in Kharkiv underscores the severe human cost of the ongoing conflict as international diplomacy struggles to find a path to peace.
