At least eight individuals were murdered in a Russian drone strike on Odesa, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to demand additional air defense systems from Western allies.
Local authorities reported that a three-year-old and a four-month-old infant were among those injured in the overnight attack on a southern Ukrainian city.
“Russia persists in its aggression against civilians,” stated President Zelensky.
Recent Russian advances have been reported in Ukraine, which is experiencing an arms shortage.
Moscow seized possession of the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka last month.
The commander-in-chief of Ukraine has indicated that certain military leaders on the eastern front will be replaced.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated on Saturday via Telegram that a nine-story structure had been demolished in Odessa due to “an attack by Russian terrorists.”
Multiple stories of a residential structure were devastated, as captured on camera at the location.
Rescuers have consistently extracted additional casualties from the debris as the death toll has increased.
As of now, there are reports of at least eight fatalities and eight injuries. However, several individuals remain unidentified, and there is concern that the mortality toll may increase even more.
In contrast, Ukrainian authorities reported that an individual had lost their life in the southern Kherson region and one in the north-eastern Kharkiv area near the Russian border.
According to a social media post by Mr. Zelensky: “Our allies must provide us with additional air defenses. We must bolster the Ukrainian air shield to provide our people with additional protection against Russian atrocities. “Additional air defense systems and missiles to air defense systems are life-saving.”
The Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down fourteen to seventeen Russian-launched drones overnight.
Russian forces have launched thousands of Iranian-made drones at Ukrainian targets since they invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.
Ukraine has retaliated by targeting Russian installations, particularly energy facilities.
A drone struck a residential structure in St Petersburg, the second-largest city in Russia, on Saturday. According to officials, a hundred or so individuals were evacuated, and no casualties have been reported.
According to some Russian media outlets, the incident may have been precipitated by a disabled Ukrainian drone en route to a fuel depot. The Kremlin has not issued an official confirmation regarding this matter.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, initiated a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, which has entered its third year.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukrainian forces, announced early Saturday morning. He stated that he would be replacing several commanders on the eastern front.
Following the collapse of Avdiivka, the most significant change on the front line since Russian forces captured the nearby town of Bakhmut in May 2023, this action was taken.
For several months, Avdiivka was embroiled in fierce combat. The Ukrainian military withdrew from two adjacent villages this week, incurring additional territorial losses due to a shortage of weapons and ammunition supplied by its Western allies.
General Syrskyi declared that he would replace commanders whose actions or directives endanger soldiers’ lives.
He wrote via Telegram, “I have dispatched groups of specialists to specific brigades where the headquarters is experiencing difficulties in preparing personnel to transfer knowledge and offer assistance.”
General Syrskyi commended certain brigades. After hearing the perspectives of frontline units, he pledged to support them with ammunition, reserves, and specialized knowledge.
He insisted that the frontline situation “continues to be challenging but under control.”
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the predecessor to General Syrskyi, was dismissed by President Zelensky in less than a month.
