Russian airstrike kills one, injures 9-year-old in Odesa

The Air Force of Ukraine warned about the UAV threat.

Odesa: woman killed in massive drone attack, at least 8 injured

The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, updated the current information at 00:49 a.m. on Friday, November 15. 

He said that a 9-year-old boy was among the eight wounded in the Russian attack. The child was hospitalized in moderate condition. Among the adult victims is a 22-year-old man in serious condition. He and other wounded in moderate condition were also taken to medical facilities in the city and region, where they are being treated.

As a result of the evening attack, an apartment building in the center of Odesa was destroyed, apartments caught fire, high-rise buildings were damaged, about three dozen cars were damaged, and a fire broke out on the territory of a public institution and a two-story building.

The main centralized heating pipeline was also damaged by the Russian attack. A boiler house was temporarily shut down and repairs are underway. A branch of the heating network that heated 220 apartment buildings (40,000 residents), 7 kindergartens and 4 schools was damaged. The boiler house also served one of Odesa's maternity hospitals, which currently houses 28 women in labor and 22 newborns. 

“The facility has air conditioners, heaters, a powerful generator and a sufficient supply of fuel. Currently, the maternity hospital can be heated autonomously using its own resources. We are keeping the situation under control. All relevant services are working on the ground, including our rescuers, utilities, and law enforcement. Together we are overcoming the consequences of Russian terror, together we are confronting the enemy,” added Kiper.

Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov also reported on the consequences of the attack at 00:17 a.m. on Friday, November 15.

“In the evening of November 14, our city suffered a massive combined Russian attack. As a result, a woman was killed, the wounded are being provided with the necessary medical care. We know about 8 victims. Civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, heating system, religious and educational institutions were damaged,” he wrote.

Trukhanov added that operational services and a detachment of volunteers from the municipal security department are working on the ground.  Heat suppliers are also working to eliminate the consequences of the attack. 

“We are finding out if there is a need for resettlement. In the morning, we will start cleaning the city and helping residents of damaged buildings, and the headquarters will collect documents for providing material assistance,” added the mayor of Odesa.

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

“Russian terrorists have once again carried out a massive drone attack on Odesa and the region. There are dead and wounded, and civilian infrastructure has been damaged. A woman was killed as a result of a drone attack in Odesa. At least two people were wounded,” he said at 11:07 p.m.

At this time, it was known about damaged residential buildings, a church, and cars. Fires broke out in some locations. 

All relevant emergency services began to eliminate the consequences. 

The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, wrote on his Telegram channel that Russian troops had attacked a residential building in Odesa. 

“Another terrorist attack by Russians in Odesa. A strike on a residential building. Putin just likes to fight civilians. He has no respect for anyone, he is a sick terrorist,” he said.

In addition, the main heat supply pipeline in Odesa was damaged in the evening of November 14 as a result of a Russian attack. One of the city's boiler houses was forced to shut down. Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov reported at 10:14 p.m.

The air alert in Odesa region was declared at 9:18 p.m.  At 9:47 p.m., Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov reported an explosion in the city. At 9:50 p.m., the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, said that Russian forces were attacking Odesa and the region with attack drones. 

“Air defense forces are working. Stay in shelters!” he wrote. 

Ombudsman's response to Odesa attack

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, reacted to the attack on Odesa.

“Russia has launched a massive attack on a peaceful city. Russia once again shows its intentions to carry out terrorist attacks in violation of international humanitarian law and any laws. Russia is once again demonstrating its complete impunity. While the civilized world is afraid of decisive actions, terror continues,” he wrote.

Zelenskyy's response

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia keeps attacking Ukraine, terrorizing Ukrainian regions, peaceful cities and communities. He informed that over the past day, Russian troops fired artillery, drones and anti-aircraft missiles on Donetsk, where a drone strike claimed one life, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Kherson, Sumy and Chernihiv regions.

“Last night there was a combined massive attack on Odesa. Missiles and drones were used. Residential buildings, a heating main, an educational institution and a church were damaged. The port area was also hit. Unfortunately, one person died because of this terror. Ten more people were injured, including two children. We are helping everyone who needs it. I am grateful to each and every person who is involved in rescuing our people and eliminating the consequences. We are constantly defending ourselves against such Russian attacks and we constantly need effective protection from this terror. We constantly repeat that Ukraine needs air defense systems, the ability to destroy instruments of terror on enemy territory, defense packages, and sanctions pressure on Russia,” the President commented on the attack.