Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine overnight into Saturday with hundreds of drones and more than 30 cruise missiles. The attack, part of a stepped-up bombing campaign, has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the over three-year-old war.
At least one person died in the Black Sea port city of Odesa after being hit by drones and a missile. Five people were rescued from a residential high-rise building that caught fire due to the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said six other people, including a child, were wounded in the attack on Odesa, while critical infrastructure was damaged in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region.
Russia has been intensifying its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities. The country now frequently launches more drones in one night than it did during entire months in 2024. Analysts predict that these barrages will continue to escalate.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down 71 Ukrainian drones, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 13 drones were shot down as they approached the city.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister accused Russia of deporting Ukrainian citizens into Georgia and leaving them stranded without proper identification. This practice has been escalated by Moscow, with dozens of people left in a transit zone lacking documentation.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-odesa-zelenskyy-621c5e482c5f5cb38d56b4be0c59d622