At least two people were killed and 14 others injured on Saturday in the port city of Odessa, southern Ukraine, following a Russian drone strike on residential areas, according to local authorities.
The fatalities were a couple who lived in one of the apartments hit by the explosives. “Emergency services have just found the bodies of a couple who died when an enemy drone struck their home. My deepest condolences to their family and loved ones. Crews are continuing efforts to deal with the aftermath of the attack,” said Mayor Gennadi Trukhanov on his Telegram channel.
The strike occurred just hours after Trukhanov had warned of drone activity in the region’s airspace. He later confirmed the impact on several residential buildings and vehicles, resulting in the couple’s deaths and injuries to multiple civilians.
Regional governor Oleg Kiper initially reported six people injured, including two children. “Two children wounded in the Russian attack are currently receiving medical treatment: a seven-year-old in moderate condition and a three-year-old suffering from smoke inhalation,” Kiper wrote on Telegram. In total, 14 people remain hospitalized, most with minor injuries.
The attack comes amid a surge in Russian bombings across Ukrainian territory. Earlier that same day, at least five people were reported dead in the city of Samar, in the Dnipro region, following another strike. This week alone, bombardments in that area have already claimed around 20 lives.
In Odessa, rescue and debris-clearing operations continue, while authorities remain on high alert for possible further air assaults. The city, located on the Black Sea coast, has been a frequent target of Russian offensives, particularly through drone and long-range missile strikes aimed at civilian infrastructure.