RUSSIAN MISSILE STRIKE KILLS 10 IN KHARKIV REGION

Developing story: Casualty figures, weapon identification, damage assessments and official responses may change as Ukrainian authorities and monitors release additional information.

A Russian missile attack killed 10 people Tuesday in the village of Pechenihy in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, vowing that Kyiv would respond. Regional officials said at least 18 more people were injured in the strike.

The attack hit a busy central intersection near a post office, stores, residential buildings and other civilian sites, according to Zelenskiy and local officials cited by Reuters. Video from the scene showed covered bodies, burned-out cars and damaged buildings. Russia did not immediately comment on the strike in the Reuters account.

The Prosecutor General’s office said preliminary information indicated that Russia used two small Banderol cruise missiles. Local officials said the strike damaged 10 private buildings, a cafe, a post office, five stores and 15 cars. The location described by officials points to a civilian area rather than a clearly identified military target.

Russia and Ukraine both deny deliberately targeting civilians, but the Pechenihy strike adds to mounting evidence of civilian harm from the summer air campaign. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was gathering information on the attack and its impact on civilians.

The strike came as Russia intensified air attacks on Ukraine, trying to exploit Kyiv’s shortage of interceptors for ballistic missiles and other long-range weapons. Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to allies for air-defense systems and interceptors, arguing that civilian protection depends on sustained Western supplies.

The same day, Ukraine continued its own long-range attacks on Russia, with Moscow’s mayor saying Kyiv launched hundreds of drones at the capital region and surrounding areas. That parallel escalation shows the war increasingly being fought through deep strikes on cities, logistics, energy and industrial sites, far from the front line.

Kharkiv region has endured repeated Russian attacks because of its proximity to the border and its military and economic importance. Small towns and villages in the region remain vulnerable to fast-moving missiles and drones, often with little warning time before impact.

What is confirmed is that Ukrainian officials reported 10 killed and at least 18 injured in Pechenihy, and that the strike damaged civilian buildings and vehicles. What remains unresolved is whether Russia will comment on the target, how Kyiv will respond and whether the attack will increase pressure on allies to provide more air defenses.

Fact-check date: August 18, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Reuters; United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Developing note: Casualty figures, weapon identification, damage assessments and official responses may change as Ukrainian authorities and monitors release additional information.