13 Dead in Russian Terrorist Attack on Kharkiv: Ukrainian President Appeals to World Leaders

The death toll from yesterday's terrorist attack on Kharkiv by Russia has risen to 13. Additionally, 68 people were injured, according to Ukrinform, citing local authorities and law enforcement agencies.

"The number of deaths resulting from the enemy airstrikes on the construction hypermarket in Kharkiv has increased to 13," reported the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

Earlier, Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, had reported 12 deaths and 43 injuries. He also mentioned that the number of injuries from the missile strike on Kharkiv's city centre had increased to 25, bringing the total number of injured to 68.

"As of this morning, we have information that 12 people died from the Russian airstrikes on the Epicenter construction hypermarket, ten of whom remain unidentified. The number of injured at the Epicenter hypermarket has risen to 43," wrote the mayor of Kharkiv.

Today, May 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Kharkiv. He recorded an address highlighting the continuous terrorist attacks by Russians on Kharkiv and called on world leaders to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems and to participate in the Global Peace Summit scheduled for mid-June in Switzerland.

"I am now in Kharkiv. This city is in eastern Ukraine and, unfortunately, very close to the Russian border. What does this mean for Kharkiv? Three years of constant terror. More than a million people live in this city. And every night, every day, the Russian army shells the city, mostly with S-300 missiles. These are air defence missiles used by Russia for ground terror. There is not a single district or street in Kharkiv that has not been affected by this constant abuse. Now Russia has added strikes with guided aerial bombs," stated the President of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia is the sole source of aggression, constantly attempting to expand the war. Stopping this requires international community efforts.

"Does Russia want dialogue? Ukraine has the world's most extensive experience of being deceived by Russia in negotiations. Deception that was, in particular, Russia's cover for preparing this war. And that is why global efforts are needed - a Peace Summit involving leaders whom Russia cannot deceive. A summit that will show who in the world truly wants to end the war, rather than just declare a ceasefire that will inevitably be violated by Russian missiles and artillery, as has happened dozens and dozens of times before," declared Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

To recap, The Gaze reported that on the afternoon of May 25, Russia carried out a terrorist attack with guided aerial bombs on a construction hypermarket in Kharkiv and on a park in the city centre. At the time of the attack, over 200 people were in the hypermarket. The explosions caused a massive fire covering more than 10,000 square meters.