KYIV, Ukraine — A recent overnight attack by a Russian drone in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa resulted in one fatality and left 13 others injured, according to local authorities. This incident coincided with the arrival of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Kyiv, where discussions were held regarding the ongoing European support for Ukraine.
Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odesa region, reported that the drone caused damage to several high-rise residential buildings, private homes, and warehouses in the vicinity. However, he did not clarify whether the drone was intercepted by Ukrainian air defense systems.
In a broader context, the Ukrainian Air Force stated that they successfully shot down 32 additional Russian drones across ten other regions of Ukraine, with another 18 drones likely lost due to electronic warfare measures.
In a separate incident, a Russian bomb targeted a busy highway in the northeastern Kharkiv province, as indicated by Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekohov. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from this bombing.
Ukrainian officials are expressing concerns over an escalated aerial assault from Russia and are seeking increased assistance from Western nations to effectively respond to these threats. Nonetheless, uncertainty is growing about the level of support Kyiv may receive from a potentially new U.S. administration. President-elect Donald Trump has voiced criticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine, made ambiguous promises regarding the conflict, and has been known to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In contrast, Borrell provided reassurance to Ukraine regarding continued European support during his visit to Kyiv. He emphasized that ensuring EU backing for Ukraine has been a key focus throughout his tenure and will continue to be prioritized within the EU’s agenda.
On the Russian side, the Defense Ministry reported the destruction of 50 Ukrainian drones across seven regions within Russia, with over half of these incidents occurring in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine.