Three people have been killed after a Russian missile struck a residential high-rise in Odesa overnight, as Moscow unleashed a fifth consecutive day of attacks on Ukraine’s vital Black Sea port region. Governor Oleh Kiper said the “massive combined missile and drone attack” deliberately targeted both civilian infrastructure and industrial sites, with rescue workers pulling three residents – including two children – from the damaged building. “Cleanup operations are ongoing,” Kiper said, adding that investigators were documenting what he described as Russian war crimes.
The strikes came as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv for her 11th wartime visit, writing on social media that it was a “special moment” and announcing new initiatives to “produce more, and faster” by integrating European and Ukrainian defence industries. The talks are also set to cover Ukraine’s EU membership bid and preparations for another winter of Russian attacks.
“Three killed in Odesa as Russia launches fifth day of strikes on port infrastructure; von der Leyen visits Kyiv.”
Russia’s defence ministry said it had deliberately targeted port infrastructure “used for the unloading of petroleum, oil, and lubricants”, while Moscow has intensified its campaign against the Greater Odesa port cluster – infrastructure critical to Ukraine’s wartime exports and economy. Kiper accused Russia of “deliberately targeting the civilian population”, and said a non-residential building and a gas pipeline were also hit.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, called for “stronger sanctions” and “stronger defence packages” from the West in response, writing on X that Russia “once again demonstrates what it truly stands for: terror against civilians”.
Meanwhile, Ukraine said its drones hit 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea overnight, following intensive attacks on Russian ships in the Sea of Azov. The strikes have forced Russia – the world’s top grain exporter – to restrict shipping in the Sea of Azov, a route that handles about a quarter of its grain exports, according to news agency Reuters.
As the attacks continue, Ukraine is navigating a tumultuous political situation. Parliament on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after less than a year in post. Serhiy Koretskyi, the head of state oil and gas firm Naftogaz, is seen as a likely successor, with parliament set to vote on the appointment on Thursday.
Von der Leyen’s arrival in Kyiv underscores the urgency of shoring up Ukraine’s defences as the bombardment of its Black Sea ports shows no sign of abating. The question now is whether new defence integration can help protect the infrastructure that keeps Ukraine’s wartime economy afloat.