Emergency crews are continuing rescue and recovery operations in Odesa after a Russian drone strike damaged an apartment building, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
According to Zelenskyy, apartments between the 10th and 17th floors were damaged in the attack, leaving 17 people injured, including three children.
Emergency services remain at the scene as authorities assess the damage and work to secure the affected building.
Rescue teams battle warehouse fire
The overnight attacks also caused damage in several other parts of Ukraine, with emergency responders deployed in the Obukhiv and Boryspil districts.
Zelenskyy said State Emergency Service crews were fighting a fire at a pharmaceutical company‘s warehouse. The scale of the damage to the facility was not detailed in his statement.
The Ukrainian president said a total of 13 regions sustained damage during the night.
Strikes reported across several Ukrainian cities
The attacks were not confined to the Odesa area. Zelenskyy said strikes also affected Nikopol, Kherson, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Khmelnytskyi.
The latest wave comes amid continued Russian drone attacks against Ukrainian territory, with Kyiv warning that the threat is increasingly difficult to predict.
Zelenskyy said air raid alerts in many Ukrainian cities and communities have become almost continuous because of the threat posed by Russian jet-powered drones.
Kyiv calls for stronger European air defence
The Ukrainian president used the latest attacks to renew his call for stronger international support, particularly in air defence systems capable of countering both drones and missiles.
He argued that Ukraine needs faster production of defensive equipment and deeper cooperation with European countries to increase the continent’s ability to protect itself.
“Europe can be self-sufficient and strong,” Zelenskyy said, pointing to progress made by European countries in recent years.
Ukraine seeks faster defence production
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is continuing to work with its international partners on new defence packages as Russian attacks persist.
The Ukrainian government has repeatedly identified air defence as one of its most urgent military requirements, particularly as Russia continues to use large numbers of drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The president said stronger countermeasures and expanded production would be essential to improving Ukraine’s ability to withstand future attacks.
Recovery efforts continue after overnight attacks
Emergency crews remain engaged in several affected areas, dealing with fires, damaged buildings and the wider consequences of the strikes.
Zelenskyy thanked emergency workers and others involved in the response, as well as Ukraine’s international partners providing assistance.
The latest attacks underline the continuing pressure on Ukrainian cities and communities, where authorities are maintaining emergency preparedness amid persistent aerial threats.
