Ukrainian authorities say at least 20 people have been killed and more than 75 injured in a Russian ballistic missile attack in the Black Sea city of Odesa.
The attack on civilian infrastructure was Russia’s deadliest in recent weeks, after the Russian government recently stepped up attacks on the port city, launching drones and missiles almost daily this month.
Two Russian Iskander-M missiles were fired from Moscow-occupied Crimea on Friday and landed in a residential area of Odessa, regional governor Ole Kipel said on state television.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said: “Russia continues its terrorist attacks on Odesa…Local residents, medical workers and emergency personnel are among the victims and injured.”
Kuiper said a second missile killed a medic and a rescue worker after they rushed to the scene to treat those injured in the first attack. He added that 10 people were seriously injured. Residents lined up to donate blood at medical centers and Saturday was declared a day of remembrance.
The attack destroyed a three-story recreational facility and damaged at least 10 homes, a low-pressure gas pipeline and rescue vehicles, Southern Command said.
Rescue teams extinguished the fire in a total area of approximately 120 square meters, including the pipeline and private houses, and continued to remove debris.
Maia Sandu, president of neighboring Moldova, I wrote to X: “Ukraine needs urgent assistance to protect itself and protect peace in Europe.”
Odessa, one of Ukraine’s largest ports, has long been a target of Russian attacks, especially after Russia withdrew from a United Nations-brokered deal that had allowed safe passage for Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea. It’s here.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, wrote on Telegram: “Russian terrorism in Odesa is a sign of the weakness of the enemy, who is fighting against Ukrainian civilians when he cannot guarantee the safety of his people on his own,” the region said. “
The Russian government denies targeting civilians in the full-scale invasion that began in February 2022, but frequent Russian airstrikes across the country have left many dead.
Ukraine is developing and using long-range drones in its counterattack, and has stepped up a series of attacks on oil refineries this week in the run-up to the Russian presidential election.
Ukrainian intelligence sources told Reuters that the Ukrainian military attacked a small oil refinery in Russia’s Kaluga region with a drone early Friday as part of an operation carried out by the military intelligence agency GUR.
