Russian drones carried out an overnight attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, damaging apartment buildings and the power supply, officials said. Six people were injured, including a toddler and two other children.
According to regional official Oleh Kiper, four apartment buildings were damaged in the attack. Ukraine’s power company DTEK said two energy facilities were hit, adding that 10 power substations in the Odesa region have been damaged since December.
Russia has increased long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities this year, especially targeting energy infrastructure. These strikes have caused power and heating shortages during the winter months.
The United Nations reported that from January to November this year, more than 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and over 11,000 injured, showing a sharp rise compared to previous years.
The attacks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war. U.S. President Donald Trump recently met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said a settlement could be close. However, continued strikes are raising tensions.
Ukrainian officials say the Odesa attack shows Russia is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Moscow has accused Ukraine of attempting a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence, a claim Ukraine has denied.
