A deadly Russian missile strike on the port city of Odesa in southern Ukraine has killed at least eight people and wounded 27 others, emergency services confirmed on Saturday. The attack, which targeted port infrastructure on Friday evening, comes amidst a renewed diplomatic push by the United States to broker an end to the nearly four-year conflict.
Details of the Odesa Attack
The head of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, stated that the port was struck with ballistic missiles. The assault caused significant damage, with trucks set ablaze in a parking lot and cars also damaged. According to reports, some of those injured were passengers on a bus caught at the centre of the strike.
The Russian Defence Ministry, in a statement on Saturday, acknowledged strikes over the previous day but claimed they targeted "transport and storage infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces," along with energy facilities supporting Kyiv's war effort. Moscow did not immediately comment on the reported civilian casualties in Odesa.
Diplomatic Moves and Military Aid
This latest violence unfolded against a backdrop of intense diplomatic activity. The attack occurred shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his annual press conference in Moscow, where he declared he was 'ready and willing' for peace talks with Ukraine.
Simultaneously, a Kremlin envoy was preparing to travel to Florida for discussions on a US-proposed peace plan. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, is scheduled to meet with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday, according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity.
This follows meetings earlier in the week in Berlin between US officials and Ukrainian and European counterparts. Ukraine's chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, confirmed late Friday that a Ukrainian delegation had completed separate meetings in the US with American and European partners, agreeing to continue "joint work in the near future."
Ukrainian Strikes and Sustained International Support
In a separate development, Ukraine's General Staff reported on Saturday that Ukrainian drones had struck a Russian military patrol ship, the Okhotnik, in the Caspian Sea, along with an oil and gas production platform. The drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field, operated by Russian giant Lukoil, was also hit. The extent of the damage is being assessed.
On the international support front, European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide a massive £79 billion interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. This commitment comes as the International Monetary Fund estimates Ukraine will require £120 billion in 2026 and 2027, with Kyiv's government facing a severe financial crisis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in Kyiv, emphasised the uncertainty of the US posture following its consultations with Russia. "The key question remains how the United States responds after consultations with the Russians. At this point, I honestly don't know, but I will know later today," he stated.
As the war approaches its fifth year, the Odesa attack underscores the brutal reality on the ground, even as complex diplomatic manoeuvres continue behind the scenes.
