Russian attack on Odesa kills three as Ukraine targets vessels in Black Sea

Lead

Russian strikes on the Black Sea port city of Odesa killed at least three people and wounded several others, according to local officials, as Ukraine's military targeted Russian vessels in the Black Sea in an escalating battle over key shipping routes.

The attack, which local officials described as part of a "massive" Russian drone and missile assault that has continued for a fifth consecutive day, hit residential buildings and port infrastructure, Serhiy Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, said in a statement. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the strikes, saying they targeted port facilities used for storing fuel and assembling drones, and added that four vessels delivering cargoes for the Ukrainian armed forces were struck in the ports of Chornomorsk and Dnipro-Buh.

Coverage comparison

The reports of the attacks and their aftermath vary somewhat across outlets. Al Jazeera reported that at least three people were killed and three others wounded in the strikes, while also noting that two Ukrainians were killed aboard a foreign vessel in Mykolaiv and two more were killed in Kherson and Odesa in separate incidents. BBC — World reported the same death toll in Odesa and added that the death toll from a Russian strike on a cargo ship off the coast of Odesa had risen to 10, with nine crew members and one Ukrainian pilot killed. Deutsche Welle reported that at least three people were killed in Odesa and at least four were injured, and later that at least six people were killed and 20 wounded in Russian attacks across Ukraine overnight, including in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy.

France 24 — English also reported the three deaths in Odesa, while the Jerusalem Post noted that shipowners had halted vessel arrivals at Ukraine's Black Sea ports due to the intensified strikes.

On the Ukrainian side, reports of the number of Russian vessels struck vary. Al Jazeera reported that Ukraine's drone forces hit 20 Russian vessels, including 17 oil tankers, two gas tankers, and one tugboat. Deutsche Welle reported that Ukraine hit six Russian tankers in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, and later that at least 11 Russian vessels were struck, with the total for the month approaching 150. BBC — World also reported that Ukraine's drones hit 20 Russian vessels.

Key claims

The attacks are part of a broader campaign by both sides to disrupt each other's shipping in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, which are vital corridors for grain exports. Russia has stepped up strikes on Ukrainian ports in the Greater Odesa area, which handle much of the country's grain and other cargo and are critical to its wartime economy. Ukraine, meanwhile, has expanded its drone strikes on Russian vessels, aiming to disrupt Russian military logistics and isolate Crimea, which Russia has occupied since 2014.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on Wednesday, her 11th visit since Russia's full-scale invasion, and said the EU would announce new initiatives to integrate European and Ukrainian defense industries. "I will announce new initiatives to integrate our defense industries. So we can produce more, and faster," she said.

In a separate development, Ukraine saw a government shakeup. Deutsche Welle reported that Ukraine appointed Naftogaz chief Serhiy Koretskyi as prime minister, replacing Yulia Svyrydenko, who was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky after less than a year in post. The dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as part of a cabinet reshuffle sparked protests in Kyiv for a second day, according to Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also visited Kyiv, his final trip as he is outgoing, and vowed the UK's "cast-iron" support for Ukraine, according to Deutsche Welle.

Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper accused Russia of deliberately targeting the civilian population, saying a Russian missile struck a multi-storey residential building, killing and injuring residents. He also said a non-residential building and a gas pipeline were hit.

The intensifying attacks on cargo ships have raised concerns about Ukraine's maritime export corridor, which accounts for over two-thirds of Ukrainian agricultural exports, worth roughly $9 billion annually. In a statement, Russia's Ministry of Defence said it had hit 24 vessels used by the Ukrainian military over the past week.

The attacks have also affected global markets, with wheat prices rising as the conflict disrupts shipping in the Black Sea.

Perspectives

Ukraine: Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and port facilities, and have warned that Moscow might escalate attacks to block Ukraine's grain export corridor. Zelensky said that "not a single ship entered the port" on Thursday, and that "they're going to step this up."

Russia: Russia's Ministry of Defence has confirmed strikes on Ukrainian ports, saying they targeted infrastructure used for military purposes, including fuel storage and drone assembly facilities. It also said its forces had hit vessels delivering cargoes for the Ukrainian armed forces, and that 24 vessels used by the Ukrainian military had been struck over the past week.

European Union: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, visiting Kyiv, emphasized the integration of European and Ukrainian defense industries, announcing new initiatives to deepen cooperation, and was awarded the Order of Europe by President Zelensky.