Russia Launches Ballistic Missile Strike on Odessa: Casualties and Infrastructure Damage
On Ukraine's Independence Day, July 3rd, the city of Odessa once again found itself in the crosshairs of Russian invaders, who carried out a large-scale ballistic missile strike with devastating consequences for residents and infrastructure. As a result of this attack, two people lost their lives, and three others were seriously wounded. The attack also caused significant damage to critical port infrastructure, a vital component for the region's economy. According to Oleksii Kiper, head of the Odessa Regional Military Administration, the missile used was a banned cluster ballistic missile employed by the Russian military. At 12:47 p.m., an air raid alarm was announced across Odessa region, followed by notifications from the Air Forces about an identified enemy target in the area. Earlier, during the night of July 2-3, explosions were heard in Odessa amid threats from unmanned aerial vehicles, resulting in injuries to several civilians, including two children. These tragic events once again highlight the persistent and widespread nature of Russian aggression against Ukraine, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen city and regional defense systems.