In a severe overnight assault, Russian drones targeted residential buildings and critical energy infrastructure in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa, leaving six people wounded. Among the injured were a toddler and two other children, as confirmed by Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday.
Civilian Infrastructure Damaged in Odesa Assault
Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa regional military administration, reported that four apartment blocks sustained damage from the bombardment. In a parallel development, DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, disclosed that two of its facilities suffered significant harm. The company further highlighted a worrying trend, noting that ten electricity substations in the Odesa region have been attacked just within this month.
This latest attack is part of a broader Russian campaign that has escalated in recent months. As winter tightens its grip, Russia has intensified long-range drone and missile strikes, with a pronounced focus on crippling Ukraine's energy grid. The strategic objective appears to be widespread disruption of electricity, heating, and water supplies across the nation.
Putin's Defiant Stance Amid Diplomatic Efforts
The assault on Odesa coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterating his unwavering confidence in Russia's ultimate triumph in the nearly two-year-long conflict. In his traditional pre-recorded New Year's address, delivered against the backdrop of a snow-dusted Kremlin, Putin praised Russian troops as heroes "fighting for your native land, truth and justice." He emphatically stated, "We believe in you and our victory," according to a report by the Russian state news agency Tass.
This return to the Kremlin setting marks a shift from 2022, the year the invasion began, when the tradition was broken. Putin's defiant message comes even as renewed diplomatic initiatives, involving the United States and European allies, are underway to find a path to end the hostilities.
The human cost of the war continues to mount. United Nations data released earlier this month paints a grim picture, indicating that over 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and more than 11,000 injured between January and November. This casualty figure represents a 26% increase compared to the same period in 2022 and a staggering 70% rise from 2023.
Cross-Allegations and International Condemnation
Ukrainian officials strongly condemned the Odesa strikes. Kiper labelled them "further evidence of the enemy's terror tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure." Meanwhile, tensions have been further inflamed by claims from Moscow.
Russia alleges that Ukraine attempted to attack Putin's residence using 91 long-range drones late Sunday and early Monday. Major General Alexander Romanenkov of the Russian air force presented a map at a briefing, stating the drones were launched from Ukraine's Sumy and Chernihiv regions and intercepted over several Russian areas. Ukrainian officials have firmly denied these allegations, calling them a ploy to sabotage peace negotiations.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, dismissed Russia's claims as "a deliberate distraction." On the social media platform X, she cautioned against accepting "unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine's infrastructure and civilians since the start of the war."
In a separate development highlighting continued international support for Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Romania and Croatia have joined a NATO-backed fund for purchasing US-made weapons for Ukraine. Known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, this mechanism pools contributions from NATO members other than the United States. Zelenskyy noted that 24 countries now contribute to the fund, which has garnered $4.3 billion since August, including nearly $1.5 billion in December alone.
On the military front, Ukraine's air force stated that Russia launched 127 drones overnight, with 101 being intercepted by air defenses. Conversely, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 86 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, the Black Sea, and the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Additionally, authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region reported a fire at an oil refinery caused by a Ukrainian drone attack, which was subsequently extinguished.
