Russian Drone Attack on Odesa Kills Two, Injures 15 and Damages Critical Infrastructure
Russia launched a large-scale drone assault on Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa early Thursday, killing two people and injuring 15 others, according to Ukrainian emergency services. The attack caused fires and widespread damage to residential buildings, a supermarket, a school, and railway infrastructure.
Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, reported that high-rises, private homes, and vehicles were hit. Firefighters responded to multiple blazes throughout the city. One of the victims was a railway employee who died in his home during the strike.
Ukraine’s national railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, said the attack damaged rail tracks, power lines, and three freight cars. Freight services are being rerouted, while passenger trains remain on schedule.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched five ballistic missiles and 170 drones during the overnight operation. Of these, 74 drones were shot down, while 68 failed to hit their targets due to electronic warfare systems. The fate of the missiles and the remaining drones was not disclosed.
Footage shared by officials showed buildings with shattered windows, a burning petrol station in Kharkiv, and emergency crews battling fires across impacted sites.