Russian strikes on Kharkiv kill four, including child, Zelensky urges stronger air defence

Russian strikes killed at least four in Kharkiv (X)

Russian strikes in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed at least four people, including a 14-year-old girl at a playground, according to officials on Friday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia had dropped a guided bomb on the city, urging Kyiv's allies to make "strong decisions" to enhance Ukraine's air defence systems.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, located approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Russian border, has been relentlessly bombed by Russian forces since their invasion began in February 2022.

"In the Nemyshlyansky district, the occupants killed a child right at a playground. A girl. At least three more people in the area were wounded," Mayor Igor Terekhov stated on social media.

He added that another three people were killed by a strike on a high-rise building in the city's Industrialny district.

An AFP journalist in the city reported hearing loud explosions ringing out during the attack.

The governor of the region, Oleg Synegubov, said at least 28 people had been wounded in the attacks and that medics were responding at the scenes.

Unverified images circulating on social media showed large plumes of grey smoke billowing from a Soviet-era residential building and a blaze ripping through the upper floors.

"We need strong decisions from our partners to stop this terror," Zelensky said in a post on social media.

"We need long-range capabilities," he added, referring to Kyiv's appeals to allies to lift restrictions on the use of Western-supplied missiles inside Russian territory.

"We need the implementation of air defence agreements for Ukraine. This is about saving lives," he added.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said that its forces do not target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Moscow's forces attempted to capture Kharkiv in the early stages of their invasion but were pushed back. They launched a fresh ground offensive in the Kharkiv region in May.

Russian strikes earlier on Friday in the neighbouring region of Sumy left at least two people dead and eight wounded, local authorities said.

(With AFP Inputs)