Ukrainian emergency services reported that at least two people were killed and 15 were injured in a Russian drone strike at Odesa in Black Seaport City, Odesa early on Thursday.
The attack damaged a 16-storey building, several other apartments, private homes, schools, supermarkets and cars, said area governor Ole Kiper.
Nine of the 15 casualties were residents of the 16-storey building, according to Irina Kovalenko, a spokesman for the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Odesa.
“It’s one of the houses in which a woman born in 1943 and died in 1955, and they are likely spouses. The number of victims is still clear,” Kovalenko added.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia has launched five Iskander M ballistic missiles and 170 UAVs, and 170 UAVs of various types, including resilient ammunition and decoid drones, into five regions of Ukraine.
Of them, 74 Shahed-type attack drones were shot down, and 68 more mimicking drones were “locally lost” without negative consequences.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said an explosive portion of the drone wounded an elderly woman in Kiev. Kyiv authorities have also warned residents to be careful if they encounter tile debris, citing alleged use of cluster ammunition.
No casualties have been reported in the areas of Kharkiv, Sumy and Donetsk.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack reportedly reportedly attacked the Russian-occupied town of Oleshki in Ukraine’s Carson region on Thursday, a civil servant in the area of the region said.
“In Moscow time in Oleshki (8:30 CEST), in the central market area, Ukrainian forces carried out FPV drones and massive strikes on civilians. During the attack, there were many people in the market.
EuroNews was unable to independently test these claims.
The latest wave of attacks took place after Washington and Kiev signed an agreement on Wednesday, granting access to Ukraine’s vast rare earth mineral resources.
The deal, which lasted for several months, could lead to continued military support for Ukraine.
Additional sources •AP
