KYIV-Ukrainian officials have reported that Russia conducted missile and drone strikes on southern and eastern Ukraine, causing damage to infrastructure in the Black Sea port of Odesa. Odesa is a crucial port for Ukraine's grain exports. These attacks came in response to an explosion on a bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow blamed on Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian air force, they successfully shot down all six Kalibr missiles launched during the overnight attacks, as well as 31 out of 36 drones. The missiles and the majority of the drones were intercepted over the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions in the south, while the remaining drones were destroyed over the eastern regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk.
According to Ukraine's southern military command, the missile and drone strikes resulted in damage to several homes and undisclosed port infrastructure in Odesa. However, specific details regarding the extent of the damage were not provided. No fatalities have been reported so far, but an elderly man was wounded in the attacks.
It is important to note that Odesa has frequently been targeted since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite being part of a U.N.-brokered agreement that allowed for the safe export of grain from the Black Sea region, Russia decided to withdraw from the deal on Monday. These recent attacks on Odesa can be seen as a continuation of the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential staff in Ukraine, commented on the recent attack, stating that it serves as further evidence of Russia's intention to jeopardize the lives of millions of people across multiple countries that rely on Ukrainian food exports. Yermak expressed this sentiment on Telegram, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
In response to the attacks, Moldova, a neighboring country, condemned the actions taken by Russia and also criticized Russia's decision to terminate the Black Sea grain deal. Moldova's Foreign Minister, Nicu Popescu, took to Twitter to express his condemnation.
Popescu stated that the bombing of the Odessa region and its port demonstrates Russia's tactic of weaponizing food, thereby depriving those who are most in need.
Samantha Power, the U.S. aid chief, who had announced over $500 million in humanitarian assistance during her visit to Ukraine on Monday, was scheduled to visit Odesa on Tuesday. Her visit aimed to assess the situation on the ground and provide support.
Additionally, Ukrainian authorities reported a fire at an unspecified facility in the port of Mykolaiv on Monday. However, limited information was provided regarding the incident and its impact.
As the conflict continued, reports emerged of further casualties caused by Russian shelling. According to the Donetsk regional governor, three civilians were killed in the region within the past day. Furthermore, the general prosecutor's office confirmed the death of a woman in Orikhiv, located in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, as a result of the ongoing violence.