2 weeks Ago
Odesa, situated on the Black Sea, has been a regular target of Russian drone and missile attacks since the start of the conflict in February 2022. The new air strike adds to a rising toll on civilian infrastructure in the region.
Dozens of Drones Shot Down, Many Cities Hit
Overnight, Russia deployed 86 drones, Ukraine's air force said. Of those, 36 were brought down by Ukrainian defences or disabled through electronic interference. It did not succeed, however, as drone missile attacks took place at eight sites in Ukraine.
The northeastern city of Kharkiv was also assaulted in addition to Odesa. Local officials said homes and apartment buildings had been damaged, but there have been no reported casualties there.
Air Defenses Strained as Attacks Screech Overhead
Russia has also escalated its airstrikes on Ukraine in recent days. This week, Ukrainian forces reported the most brazen attack yet: a swarm of 440 drones in a single night. Ukrainian air defenders face a challenge to intercept the sheer number of drones, and they must confront the fact that Russian Iranian-made Shahed drones have become more sophisticated and harder to handle. The mounting pressure is prompting serious concern over the ability of Ukraine's air defences to be able to respond over the long term.
