According to Ukrainian authorities, a Russian missile attack on Odesa resulted in the death of at least 20 people and injuries to 73 others on Friday. This incident is part of a series of deadly air assaults on the southern Ukrainian port city.
The state emergency services of Ukraine reported that the first missile struck several houses in the late morning, leading to the immediate deployment of rescuers to the scene. A second missile hit the same location, causing numerous fatalities, including a paramedic and a rescue worker. These reports have not been independently verified.
Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odesa region, shared photos on social media showcasing rescue workers evacuating a colleague on a stretcher and attempting to extinguish a fire near a destroyed building. An image released by the Odesa City Council depicted a rescuer lying on the grass, covered by a foil blanket.
The authorities stated that the attacks resulted in the destruction of a three-story building, damage to 10 houses and a gas pipeline, and the ignition of a fire that spread across an area of about 1,300 square feet.
This marked the third deadly assault on Odesa within two weeks, with a total of at least 38 casualties. The attack coincided with the beginning of Russian presidential elections, which President Vladimir V. Putin was expected to win. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, now in its third year, showed no signs of easing.
On the same day, Russian authorities reported that Ukrainian shelling in the western city of Belgorod, near Ukraine, led to the death of one civilian and injuries to two others. These claims have not been independently confirmed.
The Belgorod region has witnessed cross-border attacks by Ukraine-backed Russian groups in an attempt to disrupt Mr. Putin’s re-election campaign narrative that the war was in Russia’s favor. Russian forces have been advancing on multiple fronts in recent months.
The assault on Odesa on Friday appeared to be a “double-tap attack,” a tactic used by military officials to strike the same target twice with a time gap between the strikes, aimed at killing emergency workers or firefighters responding to the initial strike. Russian forces have employed this strategy in both Ukraine and Syria.
Videos shared online by Ukrainian journalists in Odesa depicted bodies on the ground, covered in foil blankets, sheets, or body bags. Among the casualties were Odesa’s former deputy mayor and the commander of a police special forces unit.
Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Army in the south, stated that the attack involved ballistic missiles launched from Crimea, the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula.
Odesa, a crucial hub for the Ukrainian economy, houses a significant port infrastructure essential for Black Sea exports. The city has been targeted by Russia in recent months, aiming to disrupt Ukraine’s export operations.
The attacks have resulted in civilian casualties, either from direct hits or falling debris. Earlier this month, a drone strike on a residential building claimed the lives of 12 civilians.
Last week, a missile struck Odesa while President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece were visiting, resulting in five fatalities. Mr. Zelensky expressed disbelief at the attack targeting the city while state leaders were present, receiving condemnation from foreign leaders.
In response to Friday’s strikes on Odesa, Mr. Zelensky referred to the double-tap tactic as “a very vile attack,” emphasizing ongoing efforts to rescue individuals trapped under the rubble.
