Russia carried out missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Dnipro, damaging residential buildings and injuring dozens. These attacks resulted in two reported deaths due to Ukrainian drone strikes in Russia. After more than four years of conflict following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, peace efforts have not progressed, with both sides accusing each other of continuous attacks on military and civilian targets.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 524 drones and 22 missiles in these recent strikes, which began on a Sunday evening and continued into the night. This escalation followed a significant Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow over the weekend. In Dnipro, officials reported 22 injuries, including a young girl and boy, while eight others were hurt in nearby areas. Damage included apartment blocks, a religious institution, and a university, with visible destruction shared on social media by local officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasized the need for Europe to strengthen defenses against such ballistic missile attacks. Additionally, drones reportedly hit facilities of Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz. In Odesa, residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten were also damaged, with injuries reported among locals, including an 11-year-old boy and a 59-year-old man.
On a related note, Ukrainian authorities stated Russian drones targeted three foreign-flagged ships in the Black Sea, including a Chinese-owned vessel. In Russia, drones were intercepted in the Rostov and Belgorod regions, leading to two deaths. Both Russia and Ukraine maintain they do not intentionally target civilians, despite significant damage and loss of life among civilians in both countries.
With information from Reuters
