Russia attacks port near Odesa, kills brothers near front line, Ukrainian officials say

Russia launched a fresh wave of attacks across Ukraine on Friday, striking port infrastructure near Odesa and killing three brothers near the eastern front line, according to Ukrainian officials. The victims included an eight year old child and two 19 year olds who were killed during a late Thursday attack in the Donetsk region. Local prosecutors said the boys’ mother and grandmother were also injured, underscoring the continuing civilian toll of fighting in frontline communities.

In a separate overnight assault, a Russian drone strike hit one of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, killing one person and injuring six others. Authorities said the attack targeted key logistics and export infrastructure that remains vital to the country’s wartime economy and foreign trade. Ukraine’s ports serve as critical maritime arteries for exports, and Moscow has intensified strikes on these facilities alongside attacks on energy infrastructure, while Kyiv has continued targeting Russian oil assets amid stalled diplomatic efforts led by the United States to end the war.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russia carried out “massive strikes on port and railway infrastructure,” damaging business facilities, fertiliser warehouses and freight wagons and sparking fires at the site. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority did not disclose the exact location of the affected port, stating only that it was one of three major ports around Odesa and that operations continued despite infrastructure damage.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 154 drones and one ballistic missile overnight. Air defences intercepted or neutralised 111 drones, though several penetrated defences and caused significant damage on the ground. Regional governor Oleh Kiper said energy, industrial and residential infrastructure were also struck in the Odesa region, causing substantial disruptions to electricity, heating and water supplies for residents.

Private energy company DTEK described the damage to local energy facilities as extremely serious, warning that repairs could take an extended period though it did not specify which installations were hit. Ukrainian officials also reported attacks on railway infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region over the past 24 hours, highlighting the broad geographic scope of the latest strikes.

The renewed assaults reflect an escalation in Russia’s campaign against Ukraine’s transport, logistics and energy networks as the conflict drags on with no immediate diplomatic breakthrough. Analysts say continued attacks on maritime ports and critical infrastructure aim to weaken Ukraine’s economic resilience while intensifying pressure on civilian populations already coping with prolonged disruptions to essential services.