Ukrainian officials reported that 14 people were injured, including two children, when Russian drones struck the southern port city of Odesa during early morning hours on Monday. The assault marks another chapter in Moscow’s ongoing targeting of civilian areas throughout its invasion, which has now entered its fifth year.
According to city administration chief Serhii Lysak, the unmanned aircraft targeted residential districts and civilian infrastructure. Odesa has faced repeated attacks due to its strategic importance as Ukraine’s primary Black Sea shipping hub.
Regional military administration head Oleh Kiper confirmed that five victims required hospital treatment, with most suffering injuries from shrapnel fragments.
In a separate incident, Moscow-appointed Governor Vladimir Saldo reported that a Ukrainian drone attack resulted in two fatalities in the Russian-controlled portion of Kherson region. The victims were identified as a man and woman, both in their seventies, who died in Dnipriany village.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Monday that Russian forces have launched roughly 1,900 attack drones, nearly 1,400 guided aerial bombs, and approximately 60 various missiles against Ukraine within the past seven days.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s advanced military technology development has enabled the country to intercept more than 90% of incoming Russian drones. Despite this success, he emphasized Ukraine’s continued need for additional American-manufactured Patriot air defense systems capable of destroying ballistic missiles.
The Defense Ministry announced Monday that Norway has become the newest European nation to establish a joint drone production partnership with Kyiv. Additionally, Ukraine has been sharing expertise with Middle Eastern and Gulf nations facing Iranian drone attacks.
Zelenskyy highlighted several positive developments for Ukraine, including NATO allies’ financial contributions for purchasing American weapons systems, the European Union’s approval of a 90-billion-euro loan package, and planned additional EU sanctions against Russia.
Ukraine has been conducting its own offensive operations, targeting Russian oil facilities and refineries deep within Russian territory using long-range drones and missiles to damage Moscow’s economic infrastructure.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported Sunday that verified evidence shows Ukrainian forces executed at least 10 attacks against Russian energy infrastructure over the previous two weeks.
