Ten people have been injured after Russia launched a “hellish” overnight attack on Ukraine's southern Odesa region, the second consecutive night of strikes on the area since Moscow pulled out of a grain export deal.
Kyiv was also targeted by kamikaze drones but all were intercepted before reaching the capital, authorities reported.
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The attack on Odesa was “very powerfully, truly massive,” spokesperson for the Odesa military administration, Serhiy Bratchuk, said in a post on Telegram.
“It was a hellish night,” he added. According to authorities, debris from an intercepted missile fell in one of the districts of Odessa, causing significant damage and injuring three civilians.
An industrial facility in the Odesa district was also targeted, resulting in an injury to a civilian employee. Two warehouses, housing tobacco and fireworks, were affected in different locations.
Falling debris from intercepted drones damaged recreational infrastructure in the coastal zone of the Koblev community and caused injuries to two civilians.
Additionally, the blast wave caused damage to several apartment buildings in residential complexes of Odesa. At least six residents, including a 9-year-old boy, sought medical assistance for injuries caused by fragments of glass and other objects.
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 31 missiles and 32 kamikaze drones. Fourteen missiles and 23 drones had been intercepted.
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Kyiv said Russia had destroyed 60,000 tons of grain meant for export in overnight strikes around the port of Odesa.
"In the port of Chornomorsk (outside Odesa), 60,000 tons of grain were also destroyed," Ukraine's agriculture ministry said, adding that the grain was meant to be "sent through the grain corridor 60 days ago."
❗️Overnight, Russia attached #Ukraine with 30 cruise missiles, one aerial guided missile, and 32 #Shahed drones.
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) July 19, 2023
Ukrainian Air Defense destroyed 37 enemy air targets:
• 13 #Kalibr cruise missiles;
• 1 X-59 guided missile;
• 23 Shahed-136/131 attack #UAVs. pic.twitter.com/uXz1k1fFRa
An unverified video posted on social media purporting to show the aftermath of a strike showed a multi-storey apartment building with several windows blown out and shards of glass on the street.
"A difficult night of air attacks for all of Ukraine. South, Odesa – especially so,” said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.
“But the enemy did not forget about Kyiv either. They once again attacked the capital with Shaheds. To no avail.
“Preliminarily, there are no casualties or damage, but the reports are still being verified.”
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a Russian strike damaged facilities at the port city of Odesa after Moscow pulled out of an agreement facilitating the safe shipment of grain from Ukraine.
The Kremlin later issued a veiled warning over the future of grain exports via the Black Sea, claiming Kyiv was using the export corridor “for combat purposes.”
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