Ukraine says Russia hits Kharkiv city centre in revenge for its success

At least 10 people were wounded when the centre of Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv, was hit by Russian rocket fire on Friday, local officials said, while the president’s top aide said the attacks were revenge for Ukrainian success on the battlefield.

Rockets hit a children’s arts centre and a school, as well as private homes, wounding at least ten people, including three children, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said the attack was revenge for the success of Ukraine’s armed forces, an apparent reference to a recent counter-attack in nearby areas which Ukraine says led to the recapture of over 20 settlements.

”For every success of Ukraine’s armed forces, for every victory, Russians… answer with strikes on innocent people,” Yermak wrote on Telegram, confirming that children were among the wounded.

”Russia is a terrorist state… you will answer (for this), and you almost certainly won’t be able to hide anywhere,” he wrote.

It was not immediately possible for Reuters to verify the reports. Russia denies targeting civilians.