A drone attack kills 4 people in Ukraine’s second-largest city as Russia builds its war strength

By HANNA ARHIROVA and BARRY HATTON
Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Authorities say a nighttime Russian attack using Iranian-designed drones has killed four people and wounded 12 in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The Kremlin’s forces in recent months have stepped up their aerial barrages of Ukraine, hitting urban areas and the power grid. The approximately 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line is largely deadlocked, but Kyiv officials say they expect a large-scale Russian offensive in the summer. Analysts say the goal of Russia’s escalated attacks on civilian areas and the country’s power grid may be to compel Ukraine’s army to deploy air defense systems away from the front line. That would allow Russia to provide more air cover for its ground operations on the battlefield.