Russian drone attacks Odesa and Kharkiv, killing one, injuring several, and causing fires in residential areas amid escalating conflict in Ukraine.
Russian drone and missile attacks pounded several Ukrainian regions overnight, killing at least one person and sparking widespread fires and chaos. The strikes, part of a continuing pattern of aggression, hit Odesa, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
In the southern port city of Odesa, a Russian drone strike targeted residential buildings. The result was devastating.
“Private residential buildings were hit, and fires broke out,” confirmed Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa region. One civilian lost their life in the attack, with emergency teams rushing to the scene to battle flames and rescue survivors.
Homes were engulfed. Streets were strewn with debris. The aftermath painted a bleak picture of the ongoing conflict.
Far to the north-east, Kharkiv wasn’t spared. Twenty drones rained down in several waves over two long, harrowing hours.
“Four people are being treated for acute stress reactions,” said Oleh Synegubov, the regional governor. Fires erupted at multiple sites, keeping emergency crews on edge throughout the night.
The drones came fast. One after another. The scale of the attack is unrelenting.
Elsewhere, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, another man was seriously injured. The strikes began overnight and continued into the early morning, involving both anti-tank missiles and drones. Officials confirmed the assaults caused extensive damage, particularly in civilian areas.
Hospitals in the region remain on high alert, treating those wounded both physically and psychologically.
These attacks come at a pivotal moment. While President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a full month-long ceasefire, President Vladimir Putin has suggested only a three-day truce tied to Russia’s Victory Day. Ukraine dismissed the shorter ceasefire, labelling it a political stunt rather than a genuine peace gesture.
Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise on both sides. Ukraine has been stepping up its own drone operations in response. Notably, Ukrainian drones recently targeted Moscow airports just days before proposed ceasefire talks, further fuelling hostilities and drawing international attention.
Ukraine’s cities remain under siege. Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk—each bearing the scars of a conflict that shows no sign of ending. As peace talks falter and civilians continue to suffer, the world watches. Yet again, the question remains: how much longer can this go on?
