Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine overnight on March 6-7, 2024. The attack involved 480 drones and 29 missiles, and this was the first major Russian attack in several weeks. Nearly half of the 29 missiles were ballistic, and most of the 480 drones were Iranian Shahed drones.
An air raid alert was activated across Ukraine due to the Russian strikes. Poland scrambled fighter jets near the border as a preventative measure, and Poland's Air Force deployed military aircraft to protect its airspace near the Ukrainian border, as it typically does during large-scale Russian attacks. Several people were killed in the attacks overall, and five people were killed overall in the attacks.
In Kharkiv, a Russian ballistic missile strike destroyed part of a five-story residential building and damaged an adjacent building. There are conflicting reports on the death toll from this incident. According to Ukraine correspondent Lubna El-Shanti, at least seven people were killed in a residential building in Kharkiv that was reduced to ruins.
However, other major media sources report that at least six people, including two children, were killed in a strike on Kharkiv, while still others state at least ten people were killed in Kharkiv, including a 13-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy. Ukrainian authorities report at least four people were killed in Kharkiv, and the Mayor of Kharkiv states at least 4 people were killed in Kharkiv. A 13-year-old girl was confirmed dead in Kharkiv, and a young boy is feared dead in Kharkiv.
Injuries were also widespread, with discrepancies in the counts for Kharkiv. Over 15 people were injured in Kharkiv according to major media sources, while other reports state 16 people were injured in Kharkiv. The regional military head of Kharkiv reports 10 people were injured in Kharkiv, including children, and other major media sources say seven people were injured in Kharkiv.
An 11-year-old boy was injured in Kharkiv. Fires occurred in the Kyiv district of Kharkiv. Elsewhere, one person was killed and one injured in Dnipropetrovsk, one person was killed and four injured in Soumy, three people were injured in Kyiv, a baby was injured in Zaporijjia, and two people were injured in Chuguiv.
According to the regional governor of Zaporizhzhia, an infant was injured in a Russian airstrike in Zaporizhzhia. The Mayor of Chuhuiv reports two people were injured in a drone attack on a house in Chuhuiv. The attacks caused extensive damage to infrastructure.
19 residential buildings were struck in Kharkiv. Electricity lines, commercial premises, cars, and the Dnister hydroelectric station were hit, though the extent of damage to critical infrastructure like the Dnister hydroelectric station is unclear. Energy installations were hit in Kyiv and other areas.
11 regions were targeted in the attacks. Rescue operations are ongoing. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, there may still be people trapped under rubble.
People are trapped under rubble with rescue operations ongoing, and rescue efforts are ongoing in Kharkiv. How many people are still trapped under rubble and what is their condition remains unknown. The scale of the attack underscores the ongoing intensity of the conflict, with widespread impacts on civilian areas and critical services.
The use of ballistic missiles and Iranian drones highlights the evolving tactics in the war, while international responses, such as Poland's military actions, reflect regional security concerns. The discrepancies in casualty figures illustrate the challenges in reporting during active combat zones, with authorities and media sources providing varying accounts. The damage to residential buildings and infrastructure, including the Dnister hydroelectric station, points to significant humanitarian and reconstruction needs.
As rescue teams continue their work, the full extent of the devastation and the number of victims may become clearer in the coming days.