Russian drone on Ukraine kills 5, injures 23

A Russian drone attack damaged apartment buildings in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, injuring 17 people, while killing 5 and injuring 6 in the northern town of Pryluky on Thursday.

On the Telegram messaging app, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the strikes, around 1 a.m., damaged seven apartment buildings, with direct hits on two.

Kharkiv has been a frequent target of Russian drones and missiles in the more than three-year-old war.

"It flew into our neighbours' apartment next door, and my child and I managed to run out into the hallway," said a resident, Anastasiia Meleshchenko, adding that the ceiling began to crumble after a blast.

Emergency services said at least four children were among the injured in Kharkiv.

In the town of Pryluky, a one-year-old child and two women were among those killed, Viacheslav Chaus, the regional governor of Chernihiv, said on Telegram, with initial details showing six more injured and hospitalised.

At least six drones were used in the overnight attack that damaged buildings in the town's residential area, Chaus said.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Russia.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022,  tens of thousands of people have been killed, with large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine destroyed, and millions forced to flee their homes.