Odesa hit by overnight Russian drone strikes, damaging homes and energy infrastructure
ODESA, Ukraine; A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa overnight Monday killed a 30-year-old mother and her two-year-old daughter, along with another woman, authorities said. The strike also damaged residential buildings, a kindergarten, and energy infrastructure.
Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper reported on Telegram that 16 people, including a pregnant woman and two small children, were injured. Around 16,700 households lost electricity due to the extensive damage, which energy company DTEK said will take time to repair.
Video footage from Reuters showed rescue workers and firefighters clearing debris at a heavily damaged residential building. 21-year-old Danylo, a resident, described the scene: “Two drones struck our house—one at the roof and the other at the central part. Our staircase collapsed completely and blocked our way out.”
The attacks come as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, with Moscow intensifying strikes on Odesa, a crucial logistics hub and the country’s largest port, responsible for most of Ukraine’s grain and maritime exports.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched 140 drones overnight, targeting energy infrastructure in multiple regions including Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, and reiterated the call for more air defense systems. He added that in the past week, Russian forces used over 2,800 attack drones, nearly 1,350 guided aerial bombs, and more than 40 missiles.
“Russia has no intention of stopping,” Zelenskiy said, underscoring the ongoing threat to civilians and critical infrastructure.
Source: Reuters