Key facts
- Russian air attacks on Odesa on Thursday injured 17 people, including three children, and damaged a 21-storey residential building.
- An explosion was reported in Kyiv on Wednesday evening amid continued Russian air strikes.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned foreign airlines about safety over Russia.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of state terrorism.
- Russia claims its air defenses destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones overnight.
- Ukraine claims its drone attacks killed two and wounded 16 in Russia's Belgorod region.
Russian air attacks struck apartment buildings in Ukraine’s Odesa and Kyiv regions, wounding at least 17 people, including three children, according to officials. The attacks occurred as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy exchanged threats over the escalating conflict.
In Odesa, a 21-storey residential building was damaged, with footage showing its windows blown out. The city's military administration head, Serhiy Lysak, shared updates on Telegram. In Kyiv, a Reuters witness reported an explosion on Wednesday evening amid continued Russian air strikes.
Zelenskyy warned foreign airlines about safety over Russia, suggesting Russian airspace would effectively close to compel peace negotiations. Putin, in turn, accused Zelenskyy of "state terrorism" and stated, "We don’t negotiate with terrorists." Putin also addressed reports of Ukrainian drones striking targets inside Russia and did not rule out striking British military facilities if the U.K. continues to provide Ukraine with weaponry.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones overnight over 11 Russian regions and Crimea. Ukraine, however, claims its drone attacks killed two people and wounded 16 in Russia's Belgorod border region.