Russian airstrikes hit Kyiv and Odesa as missile alert sounds overnight
Russian airstrikes hit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early hours of Thursday, according to officials. Loud explosions were heard across Kyiv overnight on Wednesday into Thursday as authorities issued a missile alert. The attacks caused damage in both cities and prompted fresh warnings for residents to take shelter.
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Officials said 13 people were injured in the strikes, including 10 in Kyiv. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said debris fell on apartment buildings, inhabited buildings and warehouse facilities, and landed near a petrol station. An AFP journalist in Kyiv reported hearing around a dozen strong explosions after the missile threat was announced.
The reported damage adds to the strain on civilian areas in cities that have repeatedly faced air attacks since the wider war began. The mention of warehouse facilities and a petrol station suggests the strikes affected both residential and commercial parts of the capital. In Odesa, officials also reported damage, though the supplied information did not give a separate casualty figure for the port city.
The incident comes as Ukraine continues to face regular missile and drone attacks on urban centres, infrastructure and transport-linked sites. Kyiv remains a frequent target, and local officials have repeatedly warned residents to respond quickly to air raid alerts. Odesa, as a major Black Sea port, also carries strategic importance because of its role in trade and access to the sea.
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The timing of the strikes is notable because they came on the same day that the US House passed a broad sanctions package targeting Russian officials and key parts of the Russian economy. The measure is intended to reduce the financial resources available for the war against Ukraine and now awaits the next step in the US legislative process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pushed for the bill's passage, underlining the link between battlefield pressure and international economic measures.
What remains unclear from the available information is the full scale of damage in Odesa and whether any military targets were involved. It is also not yet clear what type of weapons were used in the overnight strikes or whether air defences intercepted any of them. Further official updates are likely to focus on the condition of the wounded, the extent of structural damage and any additional alerts in the coming hours.
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