Night attack on Ukraine: Russia targets Odesa, Zhytomyr, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, injuring at least 13 people

This is reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.

The Ukrainian Air Force warned of the launch of Kalibr cruise missiles at 12:56 a.m. on Wednesday, July 19. At the same time, the Russian forces also launched Shahed UAVs. The threat of a Kalibr attack was announced in  the Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Kirovohrad regions.

There were also reports of a threat of attack by Shahed UAVs. This was reported in Kyiv, the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Poltava, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Kyiv and the region

On the outskirts of the capital, air defense detected and destroyed all enemy drones. Preliminarily, there were no casualties or damage, but the data is still being clarified, according to the Kyiv City Council. 

Odesa region

The Prosecutor General's Office noted that 10 civilians were injured as a result of the Russian attack. Information about other victims is being clarified.

"Russian enemy attack also damaged and destroyed an industrial facility, warehouses and trade pavilions of the industrial market, shopping centres, multi-storey buildings of residential complexes, cars, and administrative buildings. One of the cemeteries in Odesa was damaged. 

In Odesa and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi districts, private houses, outbuildings and cars were damaged," the statement said.

Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said that a cemetery and residential buildings in two city’s districts were damaged.

"According to preliminary information, no one was killed. The injured, including a 9-year-old boy, have been provided with all necessary medical care," he added.

Aftermath of Russian attack in Odesa    Photo: Reuters

According to Vladyslav Nazarov, a spokesman for the South military command, the Russian army attacked Odesa and the region with Kh-59 and Kh-22 missiles from strategic aviation and Oniks missiles from a coastal missile system deployed in the temporarily occupied Crimea. At the same time, Russian forces launched Shahed drones in the south. Eight drones were shot down over Odesa region.

"A Kh-59 was shot down on its approach to the shore and crashed in one of Odesa's neighbourhoods, creating a large crater, with the blast wave damaging several buildings around. Three civilians were injured," the statement said.

Aftermath of Russian attack in Odesa    Photo: South OC

The Russian forces attacked the port and critical infrastructure with Oniks and Kh-22s. As a result of hitting the grain and oil terminal, tanks and loading equipment were damaged. A fire broke out, and the emergency services eliminated the consequences of the attack. There is no information on any injuries.

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine later clarified that the attack damaged the grain infrastructure of international and Ukrainian traders and carriers Kernel, Viterra, CMA CGM Group.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy added that Russia's attack on the night of July 19 destroyed a significant part of the grain export infrastructure of the Chornomorsk port. It will take at least a year to restore it. According to the report, 60,000 tonnes of grain was destroyed in the port of Chornomorsk, which was supposed to be loaded and shipped via the grain corridor 60 days ago.

Aftermath of Russian attack in Odesa region    Photo: South OC

An industrial port in Odesa region was hit, and two warehouses with tobacco and fireworks were damaged in different locations. A civilian employee was injured.

Photo: South OC

In Odesa region, firefighters extinguished a fire which engulfed over 3,000 square metres.

Photo: South OC

Serhii Bratchuk, head of the Civic Council at the Odesa regional military administration, stated on Espreso that the enemy conducted a massive attack on Odesa and the region. They used cruise missiles, likely Kalibr, and possibly Oniks missiles. There were also reports of Shahed drones hitting certain spots, damaging cars and breaking windows in high-rise buildings. However, there is no information about casualties.

Bratchuk believes this might be one of the most substantial attacks in the region since the full-scale invasion began.

Explosions were reported in the region at night, and the Air Force warned about repeated launches of Kh-22 cruise missiles from the Black Sea in the southern direction. People in the Odesa region were urged to seek shelter.

Zhytomyr region

Vitaliy Bunechko, head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, said that Russian forces attacked the Zhytomyr region with Shahed drones. 

It is currently known that the strike damaged an infrastructure facility and private houses. All emergency services are working at the scene.

"There is no information on casualties at the moment, information on the extent of the damage is being clarified," added Bunechko.

The air raid alert in the region was canceled at 07:09 a.m.

Sumy region

The Sumy Regional Military Administration reported that the Air Defense Forces shot down four enemy UAVs over the region.

The alarm went off in the region at 04:52 a.m.

Kherson region 

During the night, the Russian army attacked Kherson with Shahed drones, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson regional military administration.

Around 02:00, a hit was recorded in the Shumenskyi district of the city. The cultural center caught fire, and a two-story building was damaged.

An 89-year-old woman was rescued by State Emergency Service personnel from the rubble of her home. She received medical help on the spot, and her condition is satisfactory, as mentioned in the report.

Later, the administration shared a video showing the aftermath of the Russian attack.

Poltava region

Russia also attacked the Poltava region with drones, said Dmytro Lunin, head of the Regional Military Administration. Preliminary, there were no casualties and no hits to critical infrastructure.

The air raid alert in the region was canceled at 04:47 a.m.

Mykolaiv region 

In the Mykolaiv region, Vitaly Kim, the head of Mykolaiv regional military administration, reported that a nighttime Russian strike in the settlement of Kobleve community resulted in the destruction of recreational facilities in the coastal area, causing a fire. More details are currently being investigated.

Two people were injured, and one of them was taken to the hospital. Firefighters were also targeted in the Russian attack.

"The fire was extensive, but the firefighters managed to control it even during a second wave of enemy attacks. Nearby buildings and a local fire department's car were damaged by the blast wave," the message said. 

No firefighters were injured in the incident.

Vladyslav Nazarov, the spokesperson for OC South, reported that two Shahed drones were shot down over the Mykolaiv region.