Russia wounds over 100 with new cluster supersonic missile on Ukraine’s Kharkiv

KYIV — Russia is continuing its attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas, hitting Kharkiv’s residential district with new types of cluster-filled ballistic missiles in the early hours of Friday morning.

The missile used was a 9M727, a jet-powered supersonic missile comparable to the American Tomahawk, Serhiy Bolivanov, head of the local police department, said in a statement. The munition is equipped with stealth technology, allowing it to escape radar detection.

The attack happened on Good Friday, the day many Orthodox Ukrainians spend preparing for Easter.

A 79-year-old man was killed in his apartment, more than 100 people were wounded, and more than 500 lost their homes, the police chief said. “They have blast injuries, shrapnel cuts, and shock. There are seven children among the injured.”

The attack on Kharkiv marks the third in a row in which Russia is using ballistic missiles filled with cluster munitions against civilian areas, after last weekend’s attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday killed 35 people and the week before saw an attack on Kryvyi Rih that killed 20.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing more strikes over the Easter weekend, targeting the country’s energy infrastructure.

The Russian defense ministry claimed the attack was targeting the sites of drone launchers.