Zelensky appeals to West over deadly Russian drone attack on Odesa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to Western allies to provide additional air defense systems following a Russian drone strike in Odesa that resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals.
Among the casualties of the overnight attack in the southern Ukrainian city were a four-month-old baby and a three-year-old child, according to local authorities.
“Russia persists in its assault on civilians,” President Zelensky remarked.
Russian forces have recently made advancements in Ukraine, exacerbating the country’s shortage of arms. Last month, Moscow seized control of the strategic eastern town of Avdiivka. Ukraine’s chief military commander has indicated plans to replace certain leaders on the eastern front.
In a statement on Telegram on Saturday, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that a nine-story building in Odesa had been demolished due to “an assault by Russian terrorists.” Video footage from the scene depicted severe damage to multiple floors of the residential structure.
The death toll has continued to climb throughout the day, with rescue teams retrieving additional bodies from the rubble. While at least eight fatalities and eight injuries have been confirmed, several individuals remain unaccounted for, raising concerns that the number of casualties will rise further.
In separate incidents, Ukrainian officials disclosed one fatality in the northeastern Kharkiv region near the Russian border and another in the southern Kherson region.
In a post on social media, Mr Zelensky said: “We need more air defenses from our partners. We need to strengthen the Ukrainian air shield to add more protection for our people from Russian terror. More air defense systems and more missiles for air defense systems save lives.”
Ukraine’s air force said it had downed 14 or 17 drones launched by Russia overnight.
Russian forces have launched thousands of Iranian-made drones at Ukrainian targets since they invaded Ukraine over two years ago.
In retaliation, Ukraine has targeted Russian sites, notably oil facilities.
On Saturday a drone struck a residential building in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. About 100 people were evacuated and there are no reports of casualties, officials say.
Some Russian media said the incident could have been caused by a downed Ukrainian drone, which was heading towards a fuel depot. There has been no official confirmation of this from the Kremlin.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin is now in its third year.
Early on Saturday, the commander-in-chief of Ukrainian forces, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, signaled that he would replace some commanders on the eastern front.
The move comes after the fall of Avdiivka, which marked the biggest change on the front line since Russian troops seized the nearby town of Bakhmut in May 2023.
Avdiivka was engulfed in fierce fighting for months. This week, Ukraine’s military withdrew from two nearby villages, losing more territory as the supply of weapons and ammunition from its Western allies ran short.
Gen Syrskyi said he would change those commanders whose orders and actions had threatened the lives of troops.
He wrote on Telegram: “I have sent groups of specialists to individual brigades where there are problems with the preparation of the headquarters to transfer experience and provide assistance.”
Gen Syrskyi praised some brigades and promised – after listening to front-line units – to provide reserves, ammunition, and expertise to back them up.
He insisted the situation on the front line “remains difficult, but controlled”.
President Zelensky sacked Gen Syrskyi’s predecessor, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, less than a month ago.
