Dozens Of Russian Artillery And Rockets Hit Settlements In Kharkiv: Kill Civilians, Children's Conditions Are Critical

Rescue workers inspect the rubble of a building hit by an attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/dsns.gov.ua/State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - The city of Kharkiv has been hit by heavy bombardment over the past 24 hours, as dozens of artillery and rockets by Russian troops hit the region as attacks in Eastern Ukraine escalated.

Four civilians of Ukraine's second eastern city, Kharkiv, were killed and ten others injured on Wednesday, as Russian forces stepped up their bombing campaign in the city, local officials said.

"The enemy is bombing residential houses, residential areas. Unfortunately, there are civilian casualties, the worst are critical children," Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov told Ukrainian national television, citing Reuters, April 14.

While citing Foxnews, about 53 artillery pieces and rockets hit the city in the last 24 hours. However, the Governor of the Kharkiv Region By Synehubov said Ukrainian troops were continuing to fight to defend their territory.

"Our Armed Forces are constantly fighting to prevent the enemy from passing into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions," Synegubov wrote on Telegram.

"Russia continues to terrorize civilians," he added. "Unfortunately, over the past 24 hours, 22 civilians, including three children, were injured in shootings in the area."

Kharkiv is about 30 miles from the Russian border and lies along the main highway that the invading forces had to travel south into the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Despite nearly 50 days of heavy shelling, Synegubov advised residents of Kharkiv not to evacuate and said, "Our armed forces destroy a lot of Russian equipment and manpower every day."

"Believe in our defense and stay calm," he added.

Separately, a senior US defense official told reporters Russian troops would likely remain on the streets as Moscow tries to send a second convoy to Ukraine, this time heading to the eastern front. The changing spring weather means a ground invasion could prove more difficult for the Russians, with heavily armored vehicles to be prevented from off-roading as the ground thaws.

"Russian troops are increasing their activity on the southern and eastern fronts, seeking to avenge their defeats," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video speech late Wednesday.