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At least 20 fatalities and over 70 injuries have been reported following Russia’s missile attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Friday.
In what is known as a “double-tap strike”, local governor Oleh Kiper said a second Iksander-M ballistic missile hit a residential area only moments after it had initially been struck.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to give a just retaliation to Russia for their recent aggressive attack on a city that has been under constant bombardment from Russian drones and missiles in the past month.
According to Mr Kiper, the Russian missile strike resulted in the death of a paramedic and a rescue worker who had responded to the initial explosion to offer aid. He also mentioned that there were serious injuries among the medical and rescue personnel.
“The magnitude of the explosion was particularly significant, particularly the second one… According to Mr Kiper, this is an exceedingly potent missile that travels from Crimea, which is currently under occupation, in a matter of minutes.”
In recent weeks, there has been an increase in Russian attacks on the southern city. This city’s port plays a crucial role in exporting Ukrainian grain and is essential to their economic productivity.
On March 2nd, a building was hit by a Russian drone in the region, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals, including five children.
Service workers are attending to a wounded colleague in an emergency situation.
However, this is the most fatal attack in Ukraine within the past few weeks.
According to Andriy Kostin, the prosecutor general of Ukraine, Russia is still causing terror in Odesa and those affected include local residents, as well as medical and emergency personnel who have been injured.
According to the southern military command, an attack resulted in the destruction of a three-story recreational facility and damage to at least 10 private houses, a low-pressure gas pipeline, and rescue vehicles.
Rescue teams worked to extinguish flames on both a pipeline and a private residence, covering approximately 120 square meters.
Online videos depicted the transportation of both civilians and emergency responders from the location.
“According to Oksana Kovalenko, a journalist from Ukraine, the Russians launched ballistic attacks on Odesa today. The rescuers had just arrived when the Russians struck once more.”
Mr Kiper announced a day of mourning to be held on Saturday, the second observance in less than two weeks.
According to Andriy Yermak, who is Mr Zelensky’s primary advisor, these attacks can be seen as a display of vulnerability.
According to him, the attacks by Russia in Odesa demonstrate the vulnerability of the enemy who is targeting innocent Ukrainian civilians and failing to ensure their safety in their own land.
A rescuer who was hurt in the missile attack on Friday in Odesa.
The emergency service of Ukraine, represented by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, confirmed the information.
His comments came as Ukrainian officials said on Friday that two Russian border provinces, Belgorod and the neighbouring Kursk region, were under attack by anti-Kremlin Russian armed groups based in Ukraine.
In a message on the Telegram app, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, announced that two individuals lost their lives and significant destruction was caused in the village of Kozinka.
According to a Ukrainian intelligence source, an oil refinery in the Kaluga region of Russia, south of Moscow, was reportedly damaged by drone attacks.
Recently, there have been a series of drone strikes on significant oil facilities in Russia. These attacks have been ongoing in the past week, with the intention of disrupting the main source of the Russian economy. This has occurred more than two years after Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine.
On the day of the Russian presidential elections, a series of attacks took place. Many Russians went to vote in what has been called a fraudulent election, in which Vladimir Putin is expected to be the winner.
Source: independent.co.uk
