Russia Launches Major Combined Assault on March 7, Killing Children and Cutting Heat to Thousands.

Widespread Russian Assault Targets Ukrainian Cities

According to TSN.ua: On March 7, 2023, Russian forces executed a large-scale, multi-vector attack across Ukraine, resulting in numerous civilian casualties, including children. The strikes impacted multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kramatorsk, Odesa, and others. This attack is part of a broader pattern of strikes on civilian infrastructure that has characterized the ongoing war.

The assault began overnight. In Kharkiv, a ballistic missile strike on a residential apartment block killed at least eight people, among them a 13-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy. In Kyiv, three people were injured, with two requiring hospitalization. A three-month-old girl was wounded during shelling in Zaporizhzhia. In Kramatorsk, at least six people were injured, including three children.

As reported by Ihor Terekhov, a primary school teacher and her son were killed in their own home. Oleksiy Kuleba noted that the night-time Russian strikes on thermal energy infrastructure left thousands of residential buildings in Kyiv without heating. Specifically, 1,905 apartment buildings in the capital lost their heat supply as a result of the attacks.

Civilian Impact and Air Defense Response

In the Chernivtsi region, Russian forces launched 11 drones and 4 'Kalibr' cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted a significant portion of the incoming threats, destroying 472 out of 509 aerial targets launched against the country. Vadym Filashkin emphasized that Russian terror against civilians does not cease for a single day. The international community continues to provide Ukraine with air defense systems to counter such barrages.

This assault underscores the relentless escalation of the conflict and its devastating toll on Ukraine's civilian population. Amid constant threats from Russian troops, Ukrainian cities continue to suffer from bombardment, with civilians, especially children, falling victim to the violence. These events highlight the critical need for sustained international support for Ukraine and efforts to ensure population safety in wartime conditions.