On the night of April 30, Russian forces launched another massive and brutal attack on civilian neighborhoods and infrastructure across various districts of Odesa. According to an official update published by the National Police of Ukraine, at least 18 people suffered injuries of varying severity as a result of the strikes. The head of the Odesa City Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, confirmed the severe damage, emphasizing that emergency services had been working tirelessly through the night to assist the victims and extinguish the fires.
The Prymorskyi district of the city bore the brunt of the Russian bombardment. According to the city administration, a multi-story apartment block and a five-story residential building were directly hit or damaged by falling debris. The impact sparked massive fires on the upper floors and roofs of the buildings, which firefighters eventually managed to bring under control. The destruction, however, extended far beyond these apartment buildings. A local kindergarten was severely damaged in the blast, alongside a shopping center, a hotel, and several administrative buildings. The shockwaves and shrapnel also swept through nearby parking lots, destroying or heavily damaging dozens of civilian vehicles and buses.
In the Khadzhybeiskyi district, the strikes targeted infrastructure facilities, warehouses, and a garage cooperative. The attacks left 16 people injured in this district alone, including a 17-year-old boy. Emergency responders quickly provided first aid and coordinated the evacuation of the wounded. “Two people are currently in intensive care in critical condition, and doctors are fighting for their lives. Another man was hospitalized in the trauma department with severe injuries. The rest of the victims were provided with the necessary assistance on the spot or referred for outpatient treatment,” Lysak reported.
Over 200 rescue workers and nearly 50 pieces of specialized equipment were deployed to the affected sites. In addition to fighting fires and clearing debris, psychologists from the State Emergency Service provided essential support to dozens of residents in shock, including young children. While Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted the majority of the incoming enemy drones, the sheer volume of the attack meant that falling debris still caused devastating consequences in dense urban areas.
This terror tactic was not limited to Odesa. On the same night, Russian attack drones struck the neighboring Mykolaiv region, where five more civilians were injured following hits on local infrastructure. These systematic strikes on peaceful Ukrainian cities underscore the continued threat posed by Russia’s aerial campaign against residential and civilian sectors. As the war continues, Ukrainian authorities are persistently calling on international partners to provide additional modern air defense systems to protect the skies over Odesa and other vulnerable regions, while Ukraine’s defense forces continue to target the Russian airbases and launch sites responsible for these deadly strikes.