Ukraine war: Russia attacks supermarket in Kharkiv – authorities

At least two people were killed and 35 others injured when Russian forces hit a supermarket in the northern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with two glide bombs, local officials said.

A large fire was seen at the Epicentr K hardware store on the northern outskirts of the city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there may have been more than 200 people in the supermarket at the time of the attack.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram: “A large number of people are missing. This is pure terrorism.”

President Zelensky added: “This attack on Kharkiv is another expression of Russian madness.

“Only madmen like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin are capable of killing and terrorizing people like this.”

In a second attack in central Kharkiv later Saturday, eight people were injured, according to Terekhov.

The attack will increase Ukrainian fears over the lack of adequate air defense.

Mr Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine must be able to defend itself and that to do so it needs air defence systems from its Western allies.

The attack followed a summit in Italy where G7 finance ministers backed the idea of ​​using profits from frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s war effort.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said there was broad support for the idea.

Under a US proposal, the G7 and its allies could use frozen Russian assets in Western banks as collateral for a $50 billion loan to Kyiv. The idea will be discussed further next month.

Russia has threatened retaliation.

The latest attack on Kharkiv is another sign of Moscow’s growing confidence. The armed forces appear to be seizing an opportunity to extend their advantage while Ukraine waits for more Western weapons to arrive at the front.

Glide bombs of the type used in the attack are built by adding folding wings and satellite navigation to old Soviet bombs. They are cheap but destructive.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said 3,000 such bombs were dropped on the country in March alone.

The Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) said in a recent report that they were crucial in the capture of the important city of Avdiivka in February.