Russian attack on Ukraine’s Odessa region injures four, causes widespread power cuts
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
KYIV - A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern region of Odessa injured four people, including a child, and caused widespread power cuts, local officials said on Feb 19.
The “massive” attack damaged civilian infrastructure, including a kindergarten, a children’s clinic and windows in high-rise buildings, governor Oleh Kiper said.
Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said energy workers were assessing the consequences for one of city’s largest districts, with 250,000 residents, which lost heating and power.
He said 500 buildings, 14 schools and 13 kindergartens were affected as temperatures in the city dipped to minus 6 deg C in the morning.
Mr Trukhanov said the “situation with heating is very difficult” based on preliminary assessments, and announced that schools and kindergartens in the district would not work on Feb 19.
The video he posted from the site showed buildings with damaged ceilings, windows, facades and doors.
Odessa has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in the nearly three-year-old war, particularly facilities in the ports in and around the city.
Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians, though thousands have been killed since it launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. REUTERS