Russia launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea city of Odesa late on Thursday, injuring three teenagers and sparking fires. The attack came as Czech President Petr Pavel visited the city for talks with regional officials.
Ukrainian officials said the long-range drones damaged infrastructure, residential houses, and commercial buildings, causing multiple fires. Around 25 cars were set ablaze at a car repair shop, leaving the owner in shock.
Military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko described the attack as “intimidation” and one of the most massive on Odesa since Russia invaded in February 2022. He said Russia used new tactics for the drone attack, descending from a higher altitude than usual to evade Ukraine’s air defenses.
The Czech president’s visit coincided with a push by the United States for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. US officials have been involved in talks aimed at halting strikes on energy infrastructure by both sides. However, Russia rejected a 30-day ceasefire.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Monday to discuss the details of a potential moratorium on strikes. The conflict has seen both sides using drones to target each other’s territories.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/czech-president-pavel-was-odesa-russia-pounded-city-with-drones-2025-03-21