KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – A recent Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa, southern Ukraine, resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and left 27 others injured, as reported by Ukraine's Emergency Service. The incident occurred late on Friday, with some of the wounded being passengers on a bus that was at the strike's epicenter.
According to the Emergency Service's Telegram post, the missile attack caused trucks in the parking lot to catch fire and led to significant damage to nearby cars. Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region, confirmed that ballistic missiles were used in the attack.
The Russian government did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the incident, though the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Saturday morning that it had targeted transport and storage facilities supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as energy infrastructure. These claims, however, did not include any acknowledgment of the deadly strike on Odesa.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes targeting Russian military assets. The General Staff of Ukraine announced that drones successfully hit the Russian warship "Okhotnik," which was reported to be patrolling in the Caspian Sea near an oil and gas production platform. The extent of the damage inflicted on the ship is still being assessed.
In addition to the warship, Ukrainian drones targeted a drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field, operated by the Russian oil major Lukoil. A radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea, which has been under illegal Russian annexation since 2014, was also struck during the drone operations.
There has been no immediate response from either the Russian government or Lukoil regarding these attacks. Lukoil is one of two major Russian oil companies, along with state-owned Gazprom, that have been affected by recent U.S. sanctions aimed at depriving Moscow of oil-exporting revenues that contribute to its military efforts.
The Ukrainian government has previously justified its long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, arguing that these facilities not only directly fund the Kremlin's war initiatives but also sustain the continued invasion, which is nearing its fifth year. These actions are framed as a response to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and to curtail Russia's capability to wage war.
This ongoing conflict continues to escalate, with both sides launching significant military operations while civilian casualties mount. The international community remains alarmed by the humanitarian impacts of the war, particularly as targeted strikes increasingly affect non-military infrastructure and civilian lives.
