"Russia Strikes Kharkiv in Retaliation, Rejects UN Meeting Amid Ukraine Border Tensions"

On the 676th day of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia conducted heavy bombardments on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to residential areas. Ukraine's air defense systems were activated in response to drone attacks. In retaliation, Ukraine struck the Russian city of Belgorod, claiming to target military sites, while Russia faced increased troop casualties in 2023 due to military degradation. Meanwhile, Russia refused to explain the presence of a missile in Polish airspace without concrete evidence of its origin.