A Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa left three people injured and caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure just hours before Czech President Petr Pavel arrived in the region.
Odesa Suffers Heavy Damage
Ukrainian officials reported that several regions came under attack overnight, with Odesa among the hardest hit. Regional governor Oleh Kiper stated that Russian drones struck a residential high-rise and a shopping center, triggering large fires and emergency power outages.
“This is another reminder to the whole world: the war continues, and Ukraine continues to fight,” Kiper said in a statement.
Emergency services battled blazes at multiple locations, deploying over 70 firefighters and 20 fire engines to contain the destruction. The attack came shortly before President Pavel’s scheduled visit to meet with local leaders and discuss further aid to Ukraine’s war-torn areas.
Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed that three waves of Shahed drones targeted the city while he was in discussions with Pavel.
Attacks Across Ukraine
The overnight assault was not limited to Odesa. In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, a separate Russian strike injured six people, including a four-year-old boy. The attack caused a large fire that damaged several residential buildings and destroyed three houses.
Meanwhile, in northeastern Ukraine, Russian drone attacks hit Sumy, sparking fires but causing no reported injuries.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a total of 214 explosive drones and decoys in the latest wave of strikes. Of these, 114 were intercepted and another 81 were jammed, according to military officials.
Russia and Ukraine Trade Accusations Over Kursk Attack
In a separate development, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking a gas metering station in the Kursk region. The station is located in Sudzha, an area that Russia claimed to have retaken from Ukrainian forces last week.
Ukraine denied responsibility, stating that Russian forces had shelled the facility themselves in an attempt to provoke international condemnation of Kyiv. The Ukrainian military dismissed the accusations as a “discrediting campaign” by Moscow.
Ceasefire Talks Clouded by Conflicting Claims
Despite ongoing hostilities, Ukraine and Russia reportedly reached a preliminary agreement on a limited ceasefire following discussions mediated by former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, differing interpretations of the agreement have created uncertainty over its scope.
According to the White House, the deal covers “energy and infrastructure” targets, while the Kremlin insists it applies only to “energy infrastructure.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed for railways and ports to be included in the ceasefire protections.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian forces are currently refraining from attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, as per Putin’s order for a 30-day halt. However, with ongoing strikes across Ukraine, the full extent and enforcement of the agreement remain in question.
As tensions continue to escalate, Ukraine is set to hold technical talks in Saudi Arabia this weekend to clarify the terms of the ceasefire and determine which infrastructure will be protected under the agreement.
