A predawn Russian drone strike on Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa has left 14 people wounded, including two children, local authorities reported on Monday. The attack, which targeted residential areas and civilian infrastructure, underscores the ongoing pattern of strikes against civilian zones that has characterised Moscow's full-scale invasion, now entering its fifth year.
Details of the Odesa Attack
Serhii Lysak, head of the Odesa city administration, confirmed that the drones hit residential neighbourhoods and civilian infrastructure. Five of the injured, most suffering from shrapnel wounds, have been hospitalised, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration. Russia has repeatedly targeted Odesa, a vital Black Sea port for Ukraine, throughout the conflict.
Casualties in Russian-Held Kherson
In a separate incident, a Ukrainian drone strike killed two people in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region, said Moscow-installed Governor Vladimir Saldo. The victims, a man and a woman in their 70s, died in the village of Dnipriany.
Zelenskyy's Statement on Russian Attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday that over the past week, Russia has launched approximately 1,900 attack drones, nearly 1,400 powerful guided aerial bombs, and around 60 missiles of various types against Ukraine. He claimed that Ukraine's wartime development of cutting-edge military technology has enabled it to intercept more than 90% of the drones launched by Russia. However, Zelenskyy emphasised the need for more American-made Patriot air defence missiles capable of shooting down Russia's ballistic missiles.
International Developments
Ukraine has recently been assisting countries in the Middle East and Gulf region with know-how to counter Iranian drone attacks amid the Iran war. Additionally, Norway has become the latest European country to enter into a joint drone manufacturing agreement with Kyiv, as announced by Ukraine's Defence Ministry on Monday.
Zelenskyy also highlighted positive news for Ukraine: NATO partners, excluding the United States, have contributed to a financial arrangement to purchase American weapons. The European Union has approved a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loan to Ukraine and intends to impose further sanctions on Moscow.
Ukrainian Strikes Inside Russia
In retaliation, Ukraine has been targeting oil terminals and refineries deep inside Russia with long-range drones and missiles, aiming to disrupt Moscow's economy. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, reported late Sunday that geolocated evidence indicates Ukrainian forces conducted at least 10 strikes against Russian oil and gas infrastructure in the past two weeks.
