Overnight Russian air strikes have killed at least four people, including three young children in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region, local officials have said.
Regional head Oleh Synegubov reported that the victims included two boys, both aged two, a one-year-old girl, and a 34-year-old man, all of whom died when a drone struck their home in the town of Bohodukhiv.
Furthermore, a 35-year-old pregnant woman and a 73-year-old woman sustained injuries during the assault.
This aerial attack follows a week-long pause in hostilities, reportedly initiated at the request of Donald Trump, as Ukraine faced harsh cold weather.
Bohodukhiv has seen frequent attacks, with local officials stating that a similar strike earlier in the week resulted in the deaths of a 41-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy.
In another incident, Russian forces targeted the city of Slovyansk, where three people, including an 11-year-old girl, were killed. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighted the increased military pressure on key infrastructure by mentioning a record number of missile attacks.
Additionally, local authorities have declared a state of emergency concerning the energy crisis in the Kharkiv region, which has suffered severe power outages and diminished access to heating and water.
This violence emerges as diplomatic efforts for peace continue, with Zelensky claiming discussions are ongoing for potential talks in the coming week aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict.
