Russian forces launched a renewed wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, killing at least six people — including a mother and her young child in the northeastern city of Kharkiv — and injuring at least 36 others, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia fired 11 ballistic missiles and 149 attack drones overnight, targeting multiple regions. Air defense units managed to neutralize or shoot down 116 drones, while several others caused damage to civilian infrastructure after evading interception.

In Kharkiv, emergency services confirmed that a residential building was struck during the night, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her child and leaving several others wounded. Local authorities said rescue operations continued into the morning hours as firefighters worked to extinguish blazes and clear debris from damaged apartment blocks.

A large-scale drone attack also struck the southern port city of Odesa, damaging energy facilities, warehouses, and residential areas. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said that power outages were reported in parts of the city, while at least nine people were injured. Ukrainian energy officials warned that repeated strikes on critical infrastructure are placing increasing strain on the national power grid, particularly as winter conditions persist in some regions.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said Ukraine’s air defenses remain effective but warned that Russia shows no sign of easing its campaign. “Ukraine is holding the line,” Klitschko said in televised remarks. “But Vladimir Putin will not stop this war unless he is forced to do so.” Klitschko also addressed ongoing political tensions inside Ukraine, urging unity amid what he described as a critical phase of the conflict.

On the battlefield, Russian forces continue to intensify their offensive in eastern Ukraine, particularly around the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. Ukrainian military analysts say Moscow is attempting to encircle the city, viewing its capture as a major symbolic and operational victory that could disrupt Ukrainian supply routes across the eastern front. Ukrainian General Staff reports indicated heavy fighting and ongoing counterattacks to prevent a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, in Russia, authorities confirmed that a suspect in the alleged assassination attempt on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, a senior Russian military intelligence official, was extradited from Dubai to Moscow. Russian investigators claim the suspect had links to foreign intelligence services, an allegation Kyiv has not commented on. The case adds to a growing number of high-profile security incidents inside Russia since the start of the war.

Diplomatically, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba suggested that the war’s trajectory could shift depending on international leadership. In remarks reported by local media, he said that US President Donald Trump is “the only global leader capable of forcing Moscow to reconsider its aggression,” a statement that reflects Kyiv’s concern over future Western support amid political uncertainty in Washington.

As the conflict enters its fourth year, civilian casualties continue to mount, with the United Nations warning that intensified aerial attacks are placing millions of Ukrainians at heightened risk, particularly in densely populated urban areas. (ILKHA)