Late on November 14, Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on the city of Odesa and its surrounding region.
Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper described the assault on Telegram as "massive."
According to the State Emergency Service, the attack claimed the life of a woman and injured at least 10 others, including a 9-year-old boy. A 22-year-old man sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalized, while the other victims are being treated for moderate injuries.
The attack destroyed an apartment building in Odesa's city center, with fires and damage reported in other residential buildings. Among the other damaged sites were a church, educational institutions, and vehicles.
The strikes also damaged the infrastructure, hitting one of Odesa's main heating pipelines.
This forced the city to shut down a boiler house that provided heat to 220 apartment buildings, seven kindergartens, four schools, and a maternity hospital. The hospital, currently housing 22 babies and 28 women in labor, is relying on a generator for heat while repairs to the boiler house are underway.
Emergency response teams are actively working at the scene.
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, condemned the attack as a "terrorist act," saying, "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin just likes to fight civilians."
Recent Russian attacks have targeted major cities such as Odesa and Kyiv. Earlier strikes on November 8 and 9 in Odesa also led to civilian casualties.
Ukrainian officials have expressed concern about the growing threat to the country’s energy and heating infrastructure as winter approaches.
The interim head of Ukrenergo, Ukraine's state grid operator, warned in late October that this winter may be the most challenging since the full-scale invasion began.
