Two people died in a missile attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, as Moscow and Kyiv exchanged drone and missile attacks. The Ukrainian air force reported shooting down 10 of the 14 drones and one of the three missiles launched by Russia. Oleh Kiper, Odesa’s regional governor, confirmed the deaths of a married couple in the suburbs of Odesa on Saturday night, with another person wounded in the attack. In Kharkiv, 41 people were wounded when a Russian aerial bomb struck a residential building, causing extensive damage to multiple floors.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 29 Ukrainian drones overnight, with no damage from falling debris. Another Ukrainian drone was shot down over the western Ryazan region on Sunday morning. While both Ukraine and Russia regularly carry out drone raids on each other’s territory, Ukrainian officials have not confirmed attacks within Russia’s borders. The recent attacks occurred as Ukraine requested the West to permit the use of long-range missiles provided by them to target deep inside Russia, as Ukrainian forces struggle to defend against Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.
The United States has only allowed Ukraine to use American-provided weapons in a limited area near Russia’s border with Ukraine. Kyiv officials argue that these weapons are essential to weaken Russia’s ability to strike Ukraine and compel them to relocate their strike capabilities further from the border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged for a change in the West’s policy on the use of long-range weapons, emphasizing the significant number of missiles, aerial bombs, and drones that Russia had unleashed on Ukraine in recent days. Zelenskyy stressed the importance of strong support from partners to defend against Russian attacks and ultimately end the war.
Zelenskyy made a public appeal for greater support on social media, highlighting the need for air defense, long-range capabilities, and support for Ukrainian soldiers in the fight against Russian aggression. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling for measures that would force Russia to cease its actions and bring an end to the conflict. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in numerous casualties and widespread destruction, with both sides engaging in airstrikes, drone attacks, and missile launches across the region. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with concerns growing over the escalating violence and the impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, both sides are ramping up their military operations, leading to a surge in casualties and damage to infrastructure. The latest attacks in Odesa and Kharkiv have underscored the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians, with many innocent lives lost and significant property damage. The use of drones and missiles in populated areas has raised concerns about the indiscriminate nature of the attacks and the risk of further escalation. The international community is faced with the challenge of finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict and preventing further loss of life in Ukraine.
