On the night of May 18, Russian forces launched a massive drone strike on the port city of Odesa. According to the [official report from the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper](https://t.me/odeskaODA/16142), the attack targeted residential areas, causing significant destruction and civilian casualties. Two districts of the city were hit: the Kyivskyi and Prymorskyi districts. Residential buildings were specifically targeted, with at least one single-story house completely destroyed, while several others suffered extensive damage to roofs, facades, and windows. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to extinguish fires triggered by the drone impacts.
At least two people were injured, including an 11-year-old child, who is currently receiving medical treatment. State Emergency Service workers reported that the strikes caused fires in residential sectors, including a three-story apartment building where the attic and a third-floor apartment were engulfed in flames. Local authorities also confirmed that the infrastructure in the city was severely impacted, with a secondary school and a kindergarten suffering structural damage.
This attack on Odesa coincides with increased Russian aggression across Ukraine. Concurrently, the city of Dnipro faced its own targeted strike, resulting in a high number of casualties, including children. The pattern of these attacks suggests a deliberate effort by Russian forces to demoralize the civilian population by hitting non-military infrastructure, including educational facilities and homes. Despite the constant threat, local authorities are working to restore order and provide aid to those affected. Factage Ukraine continues to monitor these developments, emphasizing that such actions constitute war crimes against the Ukrainian people. The resilience of the Ukrainian defense forces remains the only barrier preventing further catastrophic loss. Citizens are urged to treat every air raid alert with the utmost seriousness, as the enemy shows no signs of ceasing these brutal aerial campaigns against urban centers.