Seven dead in Russian attack on Ukraine's second-largest city

By Stefan J. Bos

The regional governor, Oleg Synegubov, said at least 10 Iranian-made drones were launched toward Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

While eight were shot down, at least two others hit civilian infrastructure in the Nemyshlyan district of the city, causing a massive fire that burned down 15 private houses, officials said.

The governor explained that an oil depot was hit, causing the fuel to leak out, prompting the fire.

Residents were shocked, with one saying it was "a true hell: first the fuel flowed, then everything caught fire."

Among those killed was reportedly a family of five — including children aged 7, 4, and nine months. Authorities said they burned alive, trapped in their house as the fire raged.

Two other adults were killed by the blaze in another house that burned down.

The tragedy comes days after Ukraine's president replaced his top general in a shake-up aimed at reigniting momentum in the deadlocked war with Russia.

Thankful for service

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that he was "thankful for the service" of the outgoing General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, a military leader popular with troops and the general public, but that it was time for renewal.

The changes are happening while the armed conflict is grinding into its third year, although already hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians are believed to have been killed and injured on both sides.

Ukraine's new military chief, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, signaled Friday that he wants to build new momentum. He said his immediate goals are to improve troop rotation at the front lines and "harness the power of new technology."

Adding to the difficulties is Ukraine's struggle with shortages of ammunition and personnel and maintaining support from the West.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday that Republican senators in the United States should be ashamed for blocking a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine, saying former U.S. President Ronald Reagan would be, in his words, "turning in his grave."

The European Union agreed to provide Ukraine with some 50 billion euros ($54 million) to shore up its war-ravaged economy after Hungary dropped weeks of threats to veto the measure.

That aid package — about two-thirds of loans and one-third of grants to be paid out over four years — is not intended to fund arms and ammunition, which fall under a separate EU plan.

Instead, it aims to stabilize Ukraine's economy after nearly two years of fighting pay for rebuilding. It is to set the country up for future EU membership, but officials admit it will remain a dream for now as reality sets in in the war-ravaged nation.