EU comments on brutal Russian attacks on Kharkiv: Ukraine's air defence must be urgently strengthened

The European Commission has commented on the latest Russian air attack on Kharkiv and the surrounding oblast, which killed more than 10 civilians, including a pregnant woman.

According to Peter Stano, EU’s Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, this is yet another demonstration of Russia's blatant contempt for human life, as well as the barbaric nature of its actions.

He said the EU mourns these losses alongside Ukraine and reiterated its commitment to seeing that all those responsible for such attacks and war crimes are brought to account.

"Such repeated Russian crimes against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine stress once again the need for Europe to urgently ramp up support for air defence: it saves lives and protects Ukrainian cities and villages and their population," Stano said on Twitter (X).

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the supply of two Patriot air defence systems to safeguard Kharkiv would radically change the security situation in the city.

At least six people were killed and sixteen injured in a morning attack in Kharkiv on 19 May. In addition, five civilians were killed as a result of Russian strikes targeting Kharkiv Oblast’s Kupiansk district.

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said Ukraine will receive hundreds of air defence missiles from the UK this month and urged allies to hasten the provision of military support to Ukraine in the light of Russia's offensive in Kharkiv Oblast.