Deadly strikes rock Kharkiv as Russia claims further advances

RUSSIAN strikes on Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv killed at least seven people with dozens more wounded, authorities said on Thursday, as Moscow claimed fresh advances on the frontline.

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Emergency workers were clearing debris, extinguishing flames and retrieving victims from the rubble in the aftermath of the latest attack on Kharkiv, images distributed by Ukrainian officials showed.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the barrage as "brutal" and said Russia was "taking advantage" of Ukraine's lack of air defence systems to launch deadly attacks on towns and cities at his country's border.