In a significant development in the ongoing conflict, the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa was hit by Russian drones overnight, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuring at least 17 others. Ukrainian officials revealed this distressing news on Saturday. Concurrently, Ukraine reported successful attacks on military assets located on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, destroying three attack helicopters and an anti-aircraft missile system.
According to Ukrainian sources, the Security Service of Ukraine deployed specialized drones targeting the Kirovske military airfield. An unnamed Ukrainian security official disclosed that their efforts resulted in the destruction of multi-purpose and attack helicopters, along with a self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun complex known as Pantsir-S1.
In Odesa, a Russian drone collision damaged a residential tower, impacting three floors and causing residents to become trapped. Tragically, a married couple lost their lives in the attack, as reported by regional Governor Oleh Kiper. Among the injured were three children. The Russian government has yet to provide an official response to these incidents. However, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that over 40 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed overnight across western Russia and occupied Crimea.
Drone warfare has become a defining feature of this conflict, which is now entering its fourth year. Both Russia and Ukraine are investing heavily in the development of more advanced and lethal drone technologies, turning the war into a testing ground for these new tools of modern warfare. Notably, Ukrainian drone operations have achieved remarkable results, including a covert mission in June that significantly damaged Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet.
On the battlefield and near the sprawling front line, both sides deploy smaller, short-range drones. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine highlighted the devastating civilian impact of drone strikes, reporting at least 395 civilian deaths and 2,635 injuries between February 2022 and April 2025. The vast majority of these incidents were attributed to the Russian military.
Furthermore, a report from the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights dated June 11 documented more than 13,300 civilian fatalities and over 34,700 injuries since the outset of the conflict.