A wave of Russian drone attacks struck central Kharkiv on Friday, injuring nine people and damaging a maternity hospital, according to Ukrainian officials.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said mothers and their newborns were being relocated to another facility. He did not confirm whether anyone in the hospital was among the injured.
The assault comes amid a surge in Russia’s use of long-range Shahed drones, often combined with missiles and powerful glide bombs, prompting renewed calls to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses as the war drags on into its third year.
“There is no silence in Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in response to the attack, noting that Kyiv and several other regions have faced an uptick in drone strikes in recent weeks.
The U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine reported that June saw the highest number of civilian casualties in the past three years—232 people killed and 1,343 injured. Russia reportedly launched 10 times more drones and missiles last month compared to June 2024.
Meanwhile, fierce fighting continues along the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line, where thousands of troops on both sides have been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Zelenskyy urged Western allies to follow through on military support commitments made during a summit in Rome on Thursday. He specifically appealed for more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems and interceptor drones to defend against the growing Shahed drone threat. According to reports, Russia aims to ramp up drone production to 1,000 units per day.
Zelenskyy described recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump as “very constructive,” though U.S. policy on further military aid remains unclear. He also signaled a possible diplomatic reshuffle, indicating that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov may replace Oksana Markarova as Ukraine's ambassador to Washington.
Ukraine has requested 10 additional Patriot systems. Zelenskyy noted that Germany has agreed to purchase two and Norway one, all of which are expected to be transferred to Ukraine.
Speaking to NBC, Trump said the U.S. is supplying weapons to NATO allies, who are in turn providing them to Ukraine. However, he did not confirm whether Patriot systems were part of the deal. Trump added that he would make “a major statement” on Russia next Monday, though he offered no details. Zelenskyy continues to call for tougher sanctions on Moscow.
In the U.S., a bipartisan sanctions bill is gaining momentum in the Senate. Spearheaded by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the proposal would impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries that continue buying Russian energy exports, such as China and India.
In response to repeated aerial attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities announced the launch of a new initiative called “Clear Sky,” aimed at boosting drone defense capabilities.
The project, with a budget of 260 million hryvnias (around $6.2 million), includes investments in interceptor drones, mobile response units, and operator training.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for international support to scale up production of these domestically developed interceptor drones. “Our scientists and engineers have found a solution,” he said. “Now we need financing. Then we will intercept.”
