Russian missile strikes Kharkiv mall, injuring 47
Ukraine urges deeper strikes into Russia after Kharkiv mall attack
![Paramedics give first aid to injured colleagues near an ambulance after twin Russian bombings in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/George Ivanchenko).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Ukraine_Russia_War_24245492908715-scaled.jpg)
Russian missile strikes on a shopping mall and events complex in Kharkiv injured at least 47 people, including five children, on Sunday. Ukrainian officials reported the attack. Russia, earlier in the day, accused Kyiv of launching one of the largest drone assaults since the conflict began, targeting power plants and an oil refinery. Meanwhile, Moscow’s forces made further advances towards a vital town in eastern Ukraine.
Following the Kharkiv strike, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged allies to permit Kyiv to use Western-supplied missiles deeper into Russian territory to mitigate the military threat. The conflict, now at a critical juncture, sees Russia pushing an offensive in eastern Ukraine while trying to expel Ukrainian forces that breached its western border on August 6.
Last week saw Russia conduct the heaviest airstrikes of the conflict, targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities. Moscow, which denies targeting civilians, claims that damaging Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is a legitimate military objective. Since February 2022, drone and missile attacks from Russia have killed thousands of civilians.
![Rescuers carry a wounded man after Russian missile attack on the city palace of sports in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. Over 40 civilians were injured in Sunday missile attack. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Russia_Ukraine_War_24245513896842-300x200.jpg)
Ukraine, bolstered by a growing domestic drone industry, has increased its attacks on Russian energy, military, and transport infrastructure. Kyiv continues to pressure the United States and other allies for permission to use more powerful Western weapons to inflict greater damage inside Russia and diminish Moscow’s capacity to strike Ukraine.
In response to the Kharkiv attack, Zelenskiy stated on Telegram that “all the necessary forces of the world” must be mobilised to stop the terror. He highlighted that this requires courage from world leaders to provide Ukraine with the necessary defensive tools.
In Kharkiv, rescue workers and volunteers took injured civilians to ambulances amidst shattered glass and debris. Civilians sought refuge in metro stations.
![Paramedics help an injured man at a sports facility destroyed after Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 1 2024. (AP Photo/Yevhen Titov).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Russia_Ukraine_War_24245590028629-300x200.jpg)
Earlier, Russian officials reported that air defence units had destroyed 158 drones launched by Ukraine, with debris causing fires at the Moscow Oil Refinery and the Konakovo Power Station in Tver. Kyiv has not commented on the drone barrage, and Russia rarely reveals the full extent of damage from Ukrainian air attacks.
Zelenskiy also mentioned that last week Russia used 160 missiles, 780 guided aerial bombs, and 400 attack drones against Ukrainian cities and troops. He called for long-range strikes on Russian missile launch sites, the destruction of military logistics, and joint efforts to shoot down missiles and drones.
Kyiv’s allies remain cautious about how Russian President Vladimir Putin might react if their weapons are used against targets deep inside Russian territory. Russia’s TASS state news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying Moscow might revise its nuclear doctrine in response to Western actions. Ryabkov did not provide details on the potential changes.
![Firefighters extinguish the fire after a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Russia_Ukraine_War_24245509868705-300x200.jpg)
Russia’s current nuclear doctrine, outlined by President Putin in 2020, allows for the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a nuclear attack or a conventional attack threatening the state’s existence. Russia has previously considered changes, and some military analysts have urged Putin to lower the threshold for nuclear use to deter Western adversaries.
In eastern Ukraine, heavy fighting continues with Russian forces advancing towards Pokrovsk, an important military hub and transport link. Despite Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last month, intended to force a redeployment of Russian troops, the pressure on Ukrainian forces in the east remains high.
![Paramedics help an injured man to walk out of the rubble at a sports facility destroyed after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 1 2024. (AP Photo/Yevhen Titov).](https://thethaiger.com/world/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/APTOPIX_Russia_Ukraine_War_24245589999559-300x200.jpg)
Russia’s defence ministry stated that its forces had captured two more settlements in the Donetsk region, including Ptyche, located 21 km southeast of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian officials reported at least three deaths and nine injuries from Russian shelling in Kurakhove, about 35 km south of Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, described the situation around Russia’s main line of attack in eastern Ukraine as “difficult”.
On Sunday, Ukrainian forces shelled Russia’s southern Belgorod region, injuring 11 people, including two children who were seriously hurt, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Washington Post reports on Ukraine’s massive drone attack targeting Russian energy facilities, with Russia downing 158 drones, leading to fires at energy facilities. (read more)
- The Kyiv Independent reports that Russia attacked Kharkiv a second time in a week, resulting in mass casualties, including 47 injured, including medics and children. (read more)
- BBC News offers a detailed report on Ukraine’s nighttime drone attacks on Russia, causing fires at energy facilities and injuring dozens in Kharkiv. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened in Kharkiv?
Russian missiles struck a shopping mall and events complex, injuring at least 47 people, including five children.
What did Zelenskiy call for after the Kharkiv attack?
Zelenskiy renewed calls for allies to allow Kyiv to fire Western-supplied missiles deeper into enemy territory.
How did Russia respond to Ukraine’s drone attacks?
Russia claimed to have destroyed 158 drones launched by Ukraine, causing fires at the Moscow Oil Refinery and Konakovo Power Station.
What is Russia’s nuclear doctrine?
Russia’s nuclear doctrine, set in 2020, allows for nuclear weapons use in case of a nuclear attack or a conventional attack threatening the state’s existence.
What’s the current situation in eastern Ukraine?
Russian forces are advancing towards Pokrovsk and have captured two settlements in Donetsk region.