Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine’s Odesa kills 10

Ukraine’s Air Force reported the information.

“At 11:57 a.m., the enemy (Russia - ed.) launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile at Odesa, which was intercepted by air defense. Unfortunately, the intercepted missile fell in the residential area of the city's Prymorskyi district, causing significant tragedy,” the article states.

At 11:45 a.m., near Odesa, air defense forces intercepted and shot down a Russian Orlan-10 drone, likely deployed for aerial reconnaissance.

The Russian attack on Odesa claimed the lives of 10 people, including 7 police officers, an investigator, a police escort officer, a medic, and 2 civilians, according to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry and the head of the regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper.

Earlier, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) reported that the number of injured from the Russian missile strike had risen to 43, including 4 children aged 7, 10, and two aged 11, as well as 14 law enforcement officers. The attack also damaged three apartment buildings, a university, and two administrative buildings.

“The missile struck a residential area, igniting a fire that engulfed several dozen cars and posed a risk of spreading to nearby buildings. Rescuers and volunteers managed to extinguish the blaze, which covered a total area of 500 square meters,” the SES reported.

“There are 30 adults in hospitals, three of whom are in extremely serious condition. Our doctors are doing everything possible and impossible to save everyone’s life and health. The other victims were treated on-site,” Kiper added.

Emergency services are currently working at the scene, providing assistance to the victims.

As of 1:04 p.m., eight people have been killed in the Russian attack on Odesa, with 18 others injured, including a child. Four of the wounded are in serious condition.

Earlier, the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, reported on the attack.

"Russian terrorists launched a missile attack on Odesa. There are casualties and injured. Civil infrastructure, including residential buildings, has been damaged," he wrote.

At 11:58 a.m., Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov reported explosions in the city, while the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed ballistic missiles targeting Odesa.

Zelenskyy's response

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the Russian forces had struck a residential area of Odesa: an apartment block, a university and an administrative building were damaged.

"These are not random strikes - these are demonstrative strikes. After calls and meetings with Putin, after all the false gossip in the media about allegedly refraining from strikes. Russia is showing that it is really only interested in war. And this message should be heard in all parts of the world, from the halls where the G20 members meet to all the capitals of the world," he said.

• On Sunday morning, November 17, Russian forces launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine. Strategic bombers took flight, and cruise and ballistic missile launches were detected. Energy infrastructure was a primary target. Ukraine's Defense Forces shot down 144 aerial targets, including 102 missiles and 42 drones.
• During a meeting of the commission on technogenic and ecological safety and emergencies in Odesa, a decision was made to temporarily suspend the operation of all educational institutions on November 18 and 19.