### Deadly Russian Drone Assault Hits Kharkiv

In the most severe drone assault on Kharkiv to date, at least three individuals have lost their lives, and 17 others have been injured according to the city's mayor. Ihor Terekhov disclosed that during the overnight attack, Russia deployed 48 drones, backed by two missiles and four gliding bombs.

"We are facing substantial devastation," Terekhov announced, noting that three high-rise residential buildings were among the structures impacted. Video footage has surfaced showing several floors of one of these buildings engulfed in flames.

This recent assault comes on the heels of another brutal night where six were killed and 80 injured across Ukraine, as Russia unleashed over 400 drones and nearly 40 missiles in a single night. Russian officials have claimed these aerial attacks were in retaliation for "terrorist acts by the Kyiv regime," specifically aiming at military installations.

The escalation follows a significant Ukrainian operation, known as Operation Spider's Web, which targeted Russian strategic warplanes at four air bases deep within Russia. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported that at least 40 Russian aircraft were damaged during the operation. A total of 117 drones were used in this sophisticated attack. The drones were smuggled into Russia, hidden in wooden cabins mounted on lorries, and launched remotely without the knowledge of the drivers transporting them.

In an address to reporters, US President Donald Trump commented that the Ukrainians had provided Russian President Vladimir Putin with a "reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night."

The conflict traces back to a full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022. Amidst ongoing hostilities, five more lives were claimed in drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, according to officials. Ukraine continues to grapple with the implications of these intense confrontations and the far-reaching consequences of Operation Spider's Web.