Putin unleashes aerial glide bombs in 'most powerful attack of entire war' on Kharkiv

Vladimir Putin has unleashed his ‘most powerful attack of the entire war’ on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Missiles and drones pounded the northeastern city,located about 19 miles from the Russian border,killing three people and injuring as many as 21.

Regional governor,Oleg Synegubov,said those wounded included at least two children.

Aerial glide bombs – which fly over long distances after being released by planes – were also deployed in the attack,the latest in near daily widescale assaults by Russia.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram: ‘Kharkiv is currently experiencing the most powerful attack in the entire time of the full-scale war.

‘As of this moment,at least 40 explosions have been heard in the city in an hour and a half.

Rescuers and a paramedic speak with an injured resident after he was released from debris of a building hit by a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv,Ukraine June 7,2025 (Picture: Reuters)

‘The enemy is simultaneously striking with missiles,“Shaheds” [Iranian-made drones] and guided aerial bombs.’

Terekhov said altogether 18 residential blocks and 13 private homes were damaged in the attack.

Citing preliminary data,he said Russia deployed 48 Shahed drones,two missiles and four aerial glide bombs.

Smoke still billowed over Kharkiv after the bombing at around 2am UK time as rescue services continued to comb through rubble.

In the southern city of Kherson,shelling killed a couple and damaged two high-rise buildings,regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

A woman carrying a dog being assisted by an officer near the site of an airstrike in Kharkiv

(Picture: EPA)

Attacks were also recorded on the regions of Dnipropetrovsk,Odesa and Ternopil.

The intensity of the Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past weeks has further dampened hopes that the warring sides could reach a peace deal soon – especially after Ukraine recently embarrassed the Kremlin with a surprising drone attack on military airfields deep inside Russia.

In the last 24 hours,Ukraine has suffered attacks on multiple regions and cities,with updated figures showing that at least six people were killed and 80 wounded,with some still remaining trapped under the debris of their homes.

Among the dead were three emergency responders in Kyiv,one person in Lutsk and two people in Chernihiv.

Rescuers are currently attempting to pull survivors from burning buildings and from under rubble in Kharkiv at this hour,after Russians committed what is said to be the largest attack of the war,with at least 2 dead and dozens injured,including children.Over 50 explosions… pic.twitter.com/NUDK7KsUV2

— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) June 7,2025

President Volodymyr Zelensky said more than 400 drones and 40 missiles were launched by Russian forces.

The attacks come ahead of an expected prisoner swap,set to take place this weekend – the only concrete agreement to come out of the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.