UPDATE - At least 2 killed, 24 injured in Russia's strike on Kharkiv

ADDS STATEMENTS BY UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT

By Elena Teslova and Zehra Nur Duz

MOSCOW / At least two people were killed and 24 others injured in Russia's attack on a hypermarket in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to its mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Terekhov said in a statement on Telegram that two aviation bombs were dropped, accusing Russia of "intentionally targeting" the civilian facility.

The mayor said a large number of people went missing after the attack, adding that casualties may further rise.

In a separate statement, head of the regional administration, Oleh Sinehubov, said the strike put the hypermarket on fire, which spread to the area of over 15,000 square meters.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as "madness," and complained about lack of air defense systems, urging international partners to provide them as soon as possible.

"As of now, it is believed that more than 200 people were in the hypermarket. All the emergency services are already on the site and providing assistance, rescuing people, and extinguishing the fire that has completely engulfed the building – 10,000 square meters. There are killed and injured people,” Zelenskyy said on X.

Had Ukraine possessed adequate air defense systems and modern combat aircraft, Russian strikes like this one would have been prevented, he said.

“We need a significant enhancement of air defense and sufficient capabilities ... this is a task that must be accomplished and can only be accomplished together with the world,” Zelenskyy added.

Russia is yet to comment on Ukraine's claims.