Russia burns down Protestant church in Ukraine's Kharkiv region

According to the military head, the second strike in the city damaged the Light of the Gospel church in one of the city's neighborhoods.

"A place where people came to pray became a target for Russian weapons," Karabanov said.

An apartment building and private-sector homes were also damaged. The administration reports that no one was injured in the strike. Emergency and utility services are working at the scene as cleanup and recovery efforts continue.

Russia launched a repeated strike on Balakliia city in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on May 23 (photo: t.me/vkarabanov)

Russia launched a repeated strike on Balakliia city in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on May 23 (photo: t.me/vkarabanov)

Aftermath of Russia's repeated same-day strike on Balakliia city, Ukraine (photo: t.me/DSNS_Kharkiv)

Today, this was not the first strike on the city of Balakliia. Earlier, two Russian drones hit the central city. Four residents suffered various injuries in that attack and received medical assistance.

The strikes on the central city damaged cultural institutions, a high school, a civilian infrastructure facility, a café, and an apartment building. Emergency and specialized services continue to work at the hit sites.

The attacks on Balakliia were part of a massive assault on Ukraine. Overnight on May 23, Russia launched 124 attack drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and decoy drones, across the country.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 102 of the drones, though impacts were recorded at nine locations.

Later the same day, a Russian drone struck a mourning column on the outskirts of Sumy city. One man died from critical injuries sustained in the attack, while several other people were hospitalized.