Russia launches drone strikes on Kyiv and Odessa overnight

Russia carried out a massive drone strike across Ukraine overnight, with strikes targeting the capital Kiev and the southern Black Sea port city of Odessa.

Russia carried out a massive drone strike across Ukraine overnight, with strikes targeting the capital Kiev and the southern Black Sea port city of Odessa. Ukrainian officials reported damage to infrastructure, with warehouses and trucks hit in Odessa during the multi-wave attack. The attack triggered air alerts across the country, particularly in Kiev and its surrounding areas.

The state emergency service confirmed that one person was injured in the attacks in Odessa. Ukrainian emergency teams were dispatched to assess the damage, while the wider population remained under heightened security during the attack.

Ukrainian air defense intercepts the majority of drones

Ukrainian military sources reported that air defense systems successfully intercepted 56 of the 87 drones launched by Russia, preventing further damage. An additional 25 drones were reportedly “lost” due to electronic interference, but the military did not provide further details on how the interference occurred.

The Kiev military administration under Serhiy Popko confirmed that the capital’s air defense had destroyed all drones aimed at the city. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in Kiev and authorities praised the effectiveness of the air defense systems. Nevertheless, air raid alarms were raised several times during the night, leaving the city on high alert for over five hours.

Ongoing tensions and civil threats

Although Russia has consistently denied targeting civilians, its relentless use of missiles, drones and bombings of population centers continued during the invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. As the conflict enters its second year, civilians live in both frontline areas and cities further away remain under constant threat of attack.

The nighttime drone strike underscores the ongoing dangers facing Ukrainian civilians, even in regions far from the immediate conflict areas. Despite successfully countering many threats, the Ukrainian military remains on high alert as Russia continues its airstrikes on critical infrastructure across the country.

While Ukrainian authorities report successes in air defense, frequent airstrike alerts signal that it remains difficult to protect civilian areas from such attacks. The Ukrainian military’s ability to neutralize incoming threats through advanced systems was a key factor in minimizing casualties in these attacks.

(INCLUDING SUBMISSIONS FROM ONLINE SOURCES)

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