In brief
Oleh Kiper, governor of Odesa, confirmed that a massive drone and missile strike killed three civilians and injured others in a multi‑storey residential building. The Russian Ministry of Defence said the strike was aimed at port facilities used for petroleum and lubricant unloading. Ukrainian drones retaliated by hitting twenty Russian vessels in the Black Sea, intensifying naval conflict. Amid these hostilities, European officials, including Ursula von der Leyen, are engaging with Ukrainian leaders to strengthen defence cooperation while President Zelensky reshuffles his government.
Three civilians were killed last night when a Russian drone and missile strike hit the port city of Odesa, as reported by regional governor Oleh Kiper.
The attack, the fifth in a row, struck a multi‑storey residential building, a non‑residential structure, and a gas pipeline, according to the governor. Russian defence officials said they deliberately targeted port infrastructure used for the unloading of petroleum, oil, and lubricants.
The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed the strike also hit sites involved in the manufacture of military hardware and the transport of cargo, casting doubt over the civilian nature of the raid.
In the same period, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck twenty Russian vessels in the Black Sea, while Russia intensified attacks on ships in the Sea of Azov, a route that handles roughly a quarter of its grain exports.
The mounting conflict has implications for Ukraine’s wartime economy, especially its grain ports in the Odesa area, which are vital for export and international food security.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Zelensky dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, a move that Ukraine’s parliament approved despite questions about the reasons for her resignation. The head of Naftogaz, Serhiy Koretskyi, is a likely successor, with a parliamentary vote scheduled for Thursday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv earlier this week, calling her visit a “special moment” and promising new initiatives to accelerate joint production of defence materials with Ukraine.
The attacks on Odesa highlight the ongoing struggle for control over Ukraine’s deep‑water Black Sea ports, which remain a strategic focal point for both sides in the war.
