Russian drones again attacked Odesa region: casualties and significant destruction
On the night of May 5 to 6, the Odessa region was once again subjected to a large-scale drone strike carried out by Russian occupation forces. According to preliminary information, during the day, Russian forces used unmanned aerial vehicles to carry out a targeted attack on civilian infrastructure, resulting in serious damage and human casualties. Odesa Regional Military Administration Head Oleg Kiper reported that the attack was one of the most serious in recent times. He stated that the strike targeted several districts, including residential neighborhoods and infrastructure facilities essential for the region’s livelihood. “As a result of the Russian strike on the Odessa district, a number of civilian infrastructure objects were damaged, including private residential buildings and communication networks,” the head of the administration said. Preliminary data indicate that the attack caused large fires in several locations across the region, which are now being extinguished by local emergency services. At one of the strike sites, near residential buildings, the body of a deceased person was found — the first confirmed human loss as a result of the nighttime attack. Advisors and regional officials are calling on residents to stay in shelters and follow safety recommendations, as the region remains under threat. Odesa oblast has been under constant threat from Russian aggression for more than a year, and these nights confirm that the enemy is not reducing the intensity of their attacks. Local residents on social media and at rallies are expressing deep outrage and concern for their safety. Odessa activists and human rights defenders emphasize the need to strengthen defense and quickly restore damaged infrastructure objects to minimize the consequences of the aggression and to halt the destruction of peaceful life. This is not the first attack on the region, and experts warn that Russian occupiers are once again targeting key civilian infrastructure facilities in an attempt to destabilize the situation in the region and sow panic among the population. However, Ukrainian authorities and defense forces state their readiness to respond to any attempts to interfere with peaceful life, and law enforcement agencies have opened criminal proceedings regarding the attacks. Russia continues its policy of terror, but Ukraine remains resilient and firmly committed to protecting its citizens and territories despite everything. It is expected that security measures will be increased in the region in the coming days, and international partners are calling for tougher sanctions against Russia for its aggressive actions.