Russia launched a deadly missile strike on Izium in Kharkiv Oblast, which claimed the lives of 5 people, 55 were injured

A Russian missile strike on the town of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast on February 4 claimed the lives of at least five people and injured 55 others, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Among the injured were three children: a six-year-old boy and two girls aged 14 and 16. The 14-year-old girl remains in serious condition, while the other two children are in a condition of medium severity.

Initially, authorities reported four fatalities, including two men and two women. Rescue workers later recovered a fifth victim's body from the rubble, bringing the death toll to five. One of the victims was a pregnant woman, Syniehubov confirmed.

The missile strike damaged an administrative building, along with several residential structures. Another administrative building suffered a direct hit. Syniehubov emphasized that there were no military facilities in the targeted area.

The governor indicated that preliminary evidence suggests the use of a ballistic missile, which struck the central part of the town.

Izium, located in southeastern Kharkiv Oblast, had a pre-invasion population of approximately 45,000. The town lies over 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the regional capital, Kharkiv, and about 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the front line.

Kharkiv Oblast, in northeastern Ukraine, has been a frequent target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks launched from both Russian territory and occupied areas.

Five children have been returned to Ukraine from the occupied part of Kherson Oblast

Five children have been safely returned to Ukraine from the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration.

The group includes three boys and two girls, aged between 8 and 17 years old. One of the children is an orphan.

Prokudin confirmed that the rescued children are now in complete safety and are receiving comprehensive medical and psychological care to support their recovery.

Kremlin rejects Trump's proposal to aid Ukraine in exchange for resources

Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to provide military aid to Ukraine in exchange for access to rare earth resources. Peskov described the idea as "an attempt to buy assistance."

"If we call things by their name, this is essentially a proposal to buy assistance – shifting it from free aid to a commercial arrangement," Peskov said, according to Kremlin-aligned media. "Of course, it would be better not to provide any aid at all, as that would help bring this conflict to an end."

Trump had earlier expressed interest in negotiating a deal with Ukraine to secure rare earth metals and other resources in return for the continued supply of weapons.