Ukraine Updates: 3 killed in strikes on Kharkiv

Several Russian missiles hit civialian buildings in Ukraine's Kharkiv, killing at least three and injuring over a dozen, local authorities say

US President Joe Biden has reportedly given the go-ahead for Ukraine to use American weapons for strikes inside Russia, marking a change in stance.

Here's a look at the latest developments from Russia's war in Ukraine on Friday, May 31:

05/31/2024May 31, 2024

Amnesty: Russia targeting children, families to clamp dissent

A report released by Amnesty International said Russian authorities are targeting children and their families, especially those who oppose Russia's invasion in Ukraine, as part of its crackdown on dissent. 

The report outlines how Russia has "instrumentalized" children to pressure adults opposed to the war by seperating families, threatening to remove parental rights, and even placing children in institutions. 

"Despite all the Kremlin’s talk about the value of the family, it is the very bond between children and their parents that is being shamelessly exploited to crush dissent," said Oleg Kozlovsky, Amnesty International’s Russia Researcher.  

The report gave four accounts, as examples, of families that faced repercussions of publicly stating their stance on the war in Ukraine. Among them was a 10-year-old girl who was interrogated by Moscow police over her WhatsApp profile picture, which was an anime-style drawing supporting Ukraine.

The police threatened her mother and conducted a search at their home, forcing the family to flee Russia in fear of further persecution.

05/31/2024May 31, 2024

Russian missiles hit civilian buildings in Kharkiv: Ukraine officials

Russian missiles hit three sites in Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, killing at least three people and injuring 16, officials said on Friday. 

Bystander accounts of the strike said the missiles hit a five-storey apartment block, a shop, a three-storey building and a sewing factory, around midnight local time. 

Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that S-300 missiles were used. He further said the attacks were in the "double tap" format seen of late, in which a second strike is delivered soon after the initial one on the same site. 

"All strikes are exclusively at civilian infrastructure," he added.

Syniehubov warned that more people could be under the rubble. He said at least two children  and an emergency medic were among the injured in the attack.

Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians.  

"The third, fourth and fifth floors are destroyed, stairwells were destroyed, facades were destroyed," Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov told public broadcaster Suspilne, describing damage to the apartment building.

Kharkiv Police Chief Volodymyr Tymoshko told Suspilne he expected the death toll to rise given the extensive shrapnel injuries. 

The northeastern city of Kharkiv, which is located just across the border from Russia's Belgorod, withstood Russian advances in the early weeks of the invasion. However, it has been repeatedly attacked by missiles and drones in recent weeks. 

05/31/2024May 31, 2024

Biden allows Ukraine's use of US arms to hit Russia: reports

US President Joe Biden has reportedly given the go-ahead for Ukraine to use US weapons for strikes inside Russia.

News agencies cited senior US officials who provided the information on condition of anonymity.

The cited US officials are reported to have said that the measure would be for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv.

"Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed," the official said, referring to long-range missiles recently sent by Washington to Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing allies — the US in particular —  to allow the use of the longer-range weaponry they supply to hit targets on Russian soil.

mk/fb (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)