Russian Missile Strike in Kharkiv Region Results in Child Casualties

Thu Feb 12 2026 01:42:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent drone attack in Bohodukhiv, near Kharkiv, Ukraine, has tragically claimed the lives of four individuals, including three young children. The assault marks a disturbing continuation of violence as Russian strikes escalate in the region.

On February 10, a Russian drone strike in the town of Bohodukhiv, west of Kharkiv, led to the deaths of four people including three children, aged 1 and 2. The strikes are part of a resurgence of Russian military action in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict, with additional bombings reported in the city of Slovyansk.

A Russian strike has killed at least four people, including three young children, in a town west of Kharkiv, a Ukrainian official says.

Oleg Synegubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, stated that two boys, both 1, a two-year-old girl, and a 34-year-old man died after a drone hit a house they were staying in. Moreover, a 35-year-old pregnant woman and another woman, aged 76, were injured in the strike on Bohodukhiv.

The attack on Bohodukhiv occurred on Tuesday night as Moscow renewed strikes after a week-long pause, which was in observance of severe cold weather sweeping across Ukraine.

In a broader escalation of hostilities, Donetsk regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported that Russian forces dropped seven bombs on the city of Slovyansk around noon on the same day, resulting in the deaths of two individuals, including an 11-year-old girl.

Throughout the week, Bohodukhiv had already faced prior attacks. A drone strike on Monday reportedly led to widespread power outages and resulted in at least four casualties, including a mother and her 10-year-old son. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that Russian forces intensified their efforts targeting transport and energy infrastructure, coinciding with declared states of emergency in the Kharkiv region.

The recent resurgence in attacks comes post the expiry of a so-called energy truce that aimed to alleviate the burdens of wartime energy pressures amid sub-zero temperatures. As the situation develops, Zelensky indicated that the US is pushing for a resolution to the conflict, aiming for a ceasefire by mid-year, with both parties invited to discussions next week.

As retaliatory measures continue, reports emerged of significant Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Volzhsky in Russia, damaging both an apartment and a factory in the aftermath.