Russian attacks kill two in east Ukraine, 33 hurt in Kharkiv

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KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Two people were killed in a Russian strike on eastern Ukraine on Thursday and at least 33 were wounded when Russian glide bombs struck a residential neighbourhood in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, regional officials said.

The Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office in eastern Ukraine said the two deaths were in the city of Kostiantynivka, where 12 people were also wounded.

In Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said a 10-year-old child and a month-old infant were among those hurt when Ukraine’s second-largest city was hit by two glide bombs – air-launched munitions fitted with wings and satellite-aided navigation to extend their range and precision.

“These are utterly senseless strikes with no military purpose whatsoever,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on X.

Thick black smoke billowed above the northern district of Kharkiv where a local business and an apartment bloc were damaged. Stunned residents fled, with some clutching children and flames engulfing parked cars.

“I looked around and everything was smashed,” said Yevhen Hanushchak, holding a crate with his cat outside a damaged apartment building. “Tons of smoke, people running and screaming, grabbing their things.”

Russia, which denies targeting civilians, has stepped up airstrikes on Ukrainian towns and cities since talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in its nearly 3-1/2 year-old-war in Ukraine stalled this year.

Glide bombs have been particularly devastating in areas closer to the battlefield. The regional prosecutors said Thursday’s attack was launched nearly 100 km (62 miles) away.

(Additional reporting by Yuliia Dysa, Writing by Dan Peleschuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage)