A wave of Russian drone attacks reportedly struck the city centre of Kharkiv on Friday, injuring at least nine people and damaging a maternity hospital, Ukrainian officials stated, according to the AP.

In response, mothers with newborns were urgently evacuated to another facility, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The incident is part of a sharp increase in Shahed drone attacks and missile strikes launched by Russia across Ukraine, prompting urgent calls for improved air defences.