Russia launched airstrikes in the southern Ukrainian region of Odessa on the Black Sea on Tuesday night. The Ukrainian air defense was able to shoot down six Russian Kalibr cruise missiles and 21 combat drones, the southern command of the Ukrainian army said in the morning. Nevertheless, falling debris and pressure waves caused damage to the port of Odessa and private homes. A resident was also injured. Four drones were also repelled in the neighboring Mykolaiv region.
Russia has been waging a war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine for almost 17 months. The southern regions on the Black Sea, which are of great importance for Ukraine due to their port infrastructure, are also repeatedly the target of Russian shelling. Foodstuffs have been exported via the port of Odessa in recent months as part of the so-called Grain Agreement. On Monday, Russia declared the agreement to be over for the time being, amid international criticism.
Russia reports repelling almost 30 drones over Crimea
Meanwhile, Russia claims to have fended off another major drone attack near the annexed Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. A total of 28 unmanned Ukrainian missiles were shot down during the night or deviated from their planned trajectory, the Russian Defense Ministry said. This could not be verified independently. There were no casualties or destruction, it said.
Russia annexed Crimea in violation of international law in 2014 and later connected it to its own mainland via the Crimea Bridge. According to Moscow, the 19-kilometer-long structure was attacked by Ukrainian drones early Monday morning, causing part of the roadway to sag. Kiev, on the other hand, which has repeatedly announced the liberation of all occupied territories, has so far not confirmed any involvement in the attack.
