A Russian strike on Ukraine’s Odesa region overnight has killed at least two civilians and injured three others Ukrainian officials reported on Monday, underscoring the persistent threat to population centres from waves of Russian missile and drone attacks even as the conflict nears its fourth anniversary.
Regional authorities said the assault involved multiple strike drones that hit both energy and civilian infrastructure in and around Odesa, a major port city on the Black Sea that has been repeatedly targeted due to its strategic importance for Ukraine’s grain exports and logistics networks. The attack damaged industrial facilities, office buildings and vehicles, triggering fires that emergency crews worked through the morning to extinguish.
Among the dead were a 20-year-old woman and a man in his mid-40s, according to Serhiy Bratchuk, head of the Odesa regional military administration. The three injured victims ranged in age from their early 20s to mid-40s, with at least two reportedly in serious condition and receiving hospital treatment for blast wounds and shrapnel injuries.
“The occupiers continue to attack civilian infrastructure and the peaceful population,” Bratchuk said, calling the strike “another deliberate attempt to terrorise residents” and disrupt life in the region. Local emergency services and rescue teams were dispatched to the hardest hit neighbourhoods, assisting residents affected by broken windows, collapsed walls and other blast damage.
The latest assault comes amid a broader campaign of intensified Russian strikes across multiple fronts. In recent days, Ukrainian officials and independent monitoring groups have reported sustained use of both missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, with targets including energy grids, residential areas and logistics facilities in regions spanning from Odesa in the south to Kyiv in the centre and Kharkiv in the northeast.
Ukrainian air defence forces have intercepted many incoming projectiles, but some have still penetrated defences, causing casualties and infrastructure damage that has compounded ongoing humanitarian needs. Power outages and disruptions to critical services have been reported in parts of Odesa and neighbouring districts, creating additional challenges for local authorities already stretched by wartime conditions.
International observers and rights organisations have once again condemned attacks on civilian areas, stressing that deliberate or indiscriminate strikes on non-military targets violate international humanitarian law. Calls for increased protective measures and humanitarian assistance have intensified as Ukraine marks nearly four years of conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
Despite defensive successes and ongoing support from Western partners, Ukrainian leaders have warned that Russian forces continue to prioritise pressure on urban centres and supply infrastructure. “The enemy seeks to weaken our resolve,” one Ukrainian official said, “but Ukrainians remain determined to defend their cities, communities and sovereignty.”
As the humanitarian impact of the conflict persists, authorities in Odesa and across Ukraine are urging civilians to remain vigilant and adhere to air-raid precautions while relief organisations mobilise to assist those affected by the latest strikes.
Leave a comment