A deadly Russian drone strike on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight killed two people and injured at least 17 others, including three children, Ukrainian officials reported Saturday. The strike hit a residential high-rise, collapsing three floors and trapping multiple residents.
Emergency services confirmed that the two fatalities were a married couple. Rescuers worked through the night to extract survivors from the rubble. The attack marks one of the deadliest single drone strikes in recent weeks as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues into its fourth year.
Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper provided updates, confirming the injuries and loss of life. The Ukrainian military has not released further operational details about the incident.
There has been no official response from the Kremlin regarding the strike. However, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that more than 40 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across western Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea.
Drone warfare has become central to the conflict, with both Ukraine and Russia increasingly relying on long-range, precision-guided drones to inflict damage and test new military technologies. The war continues to serve as a live battlefield for next-generation weapon systems, with drone attacks regularly targeting both civilian and military infrastructure.
The Odesa strike underscores the growing human cost of these technological advancements, as residential areas remain in the crosshairs of escalating drone campaigns. Civilian casualties have continued to mount as both sides push for strategic advantage in a war showing no signs of conclusion.
