Russian attacks kill at least 3, injure at least 42 in Ukraine

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian attacks have killed at least two civilians and injured 40 in Ukraine over the last day, Ukrainian officials said on May 2.

In Kharkiv, a daytime attack injured at least six people after Russian forces targeted four gas stations and an apartment, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synehubov reported on May 2.

An overnight drone attack on the city hit an apartment block, injuring two men and a woman,  Synehubov reported earlier. Another 16 people were injured in Kharkiv Oblast due to Russian attacks on civilian areas over the past day, including a teenage boy, he added.

Russia also targeted numerous businesses, homes, critical facilities and energy infrastructure over the last day, he said.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian bombing destroyed several homes, killing one man and injuring two — including a seven-year-old girl, reported Governenor Ivan Fedorov.

In Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, three people were injured as Russian forces hit an apartment building, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported. Over the last day, Russian troops struck the region 20 times with drones and artillery, he added.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian shelling tore through homes and businesses, injuring one person, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. Ukraine evacuated 450 people, including 84 children, from the region, he added.

As the Kyiv Independent previously reported, the worst attack over the last day was in Kherson. Russian troops launched two separate attacks on public buses,  killing at least two people and injuring at least eight.

"All victims of the attack are civilians, and the Russians clearly understood this," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media after the strikes. "In fact, such a brutal 'safari' on people is happening daily in our frontline and border communities."

Another drone attack in the city severely injured two teenage boys, causing shrapnel wounds and traumatic brain injuries,  Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. The two boys are in hospital were doctors are "fighting for their lives." he added. It was later discovered that a teenage girl had also sustained injuries in the attack.

Russian forces also attacked critical infrastructure across central and southern Ukraine overnight, including in Mykolaiv and Odesa oblasts. Damage was reported at ports and energy facilities.  

Russian troops launched 163 drones of various types, with Ukrainian forces downing or disabling 142 of them, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

Over the last week, Russia launched 1,600 attack drones, around 1,100 guided aerial bombs, and three missiles at Ukraine, Zelensky wrote on social media.

"The Russians are trying to overwhelm our air defense with massive attacks, and therefore the supply of missiles is very important every day," he added.