Odesa (Ukraine): Russian drones and missiles struck multiple Ukrainian cities late on Monday, cutting electricity to large parts of Kharkiv amid freezing winter conditions and injuring at least 23 people in an overnight attack on the southern port city of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city located barely 30 kilometres from the Russian border, was hit heavily, with power outages affecting most of the city and surrounding region. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said two people were injured and two schools were damaged in the attack. Images shared on Telegram showed vast areas of the city plunged into darkness following the strikes.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 165 drones during the assault, of which 135 were neutralised by air defence systems. Despite this, significant damage was reported to energy infrastructure, severely disrupting electricity supply.
“Our energy system came under attack and suffered quite serious damage. All emergency crews are working to eliminate the consequences as quickly as possible,” Syniehubov said in a video message, adding that nearly 80 per cent of Kharkiv city and region was without power. He noted that the constant threat of further air raids was slowing repair efforts.
In southern Ukraine, Odesa faced a “massive” drone attack overnight, according to local authorities. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said 23 people were wounded, including two children and a pregnant woman, with nine victims hospitalised. Officials warned that some people might still be trapped under debris.
The attack damaged dozens of residential buildings as well as a church, a kindergarten and a high school, triggering large fires at several locations across the city. Odesa and its surrounding region, home to Ukraine’s key Black Sea ports, have been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks.
Russian strikes also hit neighbouring Mykolaiv region, where energy infrastructure was targeted and a 59-year-old woman was injured, officials said. In western Ukraine’s Lviv region, close to the Polish border, an infrastructure facility was also struck, highlighting the wide geographic spread of the overnight attacks.
