Asger Risom
Residential neighborhood in southern Ukraine hit overnight as air defense scrambles to intercept dozens of drones
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Russia unleashed a new wave of kamikaze drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, killing five people and injuring at least 16, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes targeted multiple cities, with a particularly destructive assault on the southern port city of Odesa.
Ukrainian Air Force officials reported that 54 drones were launched from multiple locations in Russia—including the Kursk, Bryansk, Milerovo, and Primorsk-Akhtarsk regions—as well as from the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Of those, 38 drones were shot down, while 16 disappeared from radar, likely serving as decoys to mislead Ukrainian air defenses.
Densely Populated Area Struck
“In the middle of the night, the enemy targeted a residential area in a densely populated district of Odessa,” wrote Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov on Telegram. He shared images of a raging fire and apartment buildings with shattered windows and scorched facades. Emergency crews rushed to the scene to contain the fires and assist victims.
The regional governor, Oleh Kiper, confirmed that the attack damaged homes, civilian infrastructure, a local educational facility, and several vehicles. The exact number of casualties is still being verified, he added.
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A Pattern of Escalation
Odesa, home to three critical Black Sea ports, has been a recurring target since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began over three years ago. The city’s strategic importance continues to make it vulnerable to repeated drone and missile strikes.
As reported by Digi24, this latest assault is part of a broader escalation in drone warfare, which has become a staple of Russia’s nighttime offensives. While Ukrainian air defenses have grown increasingly effective, the human toll of such attacks remains devastating.
