Russia launches a new wave of drones and missiles against Odessa
The Ukrainian army has assured that it has shot down at least twenty drones and missiles launched by Russia against the city and province of Odessa, in the southwest of the country, during the early hours of the morning. The city, an important port for the departure of grain and other agricultural products, where warehouses and warehouses for these products are concentrated, has been the target of Russian attacks in recent weeks, since Russia unilaterally decided to withdraw in July from the agreement for the export of grain through the Black Sea, an agreement sponsored by the UN.
“The enemy attacked the Odesa region three times during the night, using two waves of attack drones, a total of 15, and eight Kalibr-type maritime missiles,” the Southern Operational Command of the Ukrainian army posted on Telegram. Defense air forces repelled all attacks, but falling debris damaged a student residence and a supermarket, and injured three workers, according to the army.
“The shock wave damaged windows and balconies in several buildings,” as well as “cars parked nearby,” he continued, adding that firefighters were fighting two fires.
Photos and videos released by the army on Telegram show firefighters trying to extinguish the flames that were consuming a supermarket, from which a column of smoke was coming out.
Russia and Ukraine have increased their attacks in the Black Sea since Moscow pulled out of a deal last month that allowed kyiv to export grain through the use of secure corridors. Since pulling out of the deal, Moscow has regularly shelled seaports in the Odessa region of southern Ukraine that were key to exports of those products. On August 2, Russia attacked the port structures of Izmail, in the Odessa region along the Danube River. Bordering Romania, it is one of the main routes for the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products.
The overnight missile and drone strikes come a day after Moscow said a Russian warship fired warning shots at a freighter headed for the port of Izmail. The Kremlin has said it would consider cargo ships bound for Ukraine via the Black Sea as potential military targets. (AFP)
