Russian Drone Strikes Ukraine’s Rock Odesa Amid Truce Tensions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russian drones targeted Ukraine’s port city of Odesa, sparking massive fires and highlighting the fragility of a limited ceasefire. Ukraine accuses Russia of violating the truce, while Moscow blames Kyiv for attacks on its energy facilities. The disagreement over truce terms clouds hopes for reduced hostilities.
Russian Drone Strikes Odesa: Quick Looks
- Russian drones ignited fires and injured three in Odesa
- Ukraine reports emergency outages and infrastructure damage
- Zelenskyy calls for international pressure on Moscow
- Russia accuses Ukraine of blowing up a gas station
- Disputes over the ceasefire’s scope highlight fragile diplomacy
- Czech President Pavel visited Odesa amid the chaos
- Russian glide bombs hit Zaporizhzhia, injuring civilians
- Ukraine and Russia differ on what “ceasefire” includes
Russian Drone Strikes Ukraine’s Rock Odesa Amid Truce Tensions
Deep Look
Russian Drone Attacks on Odesa Undermine Fragile Ceasefire Agreement
A massive drone attack by Russian forces late Thursday engulfed parts of the Ukrainian port city of Odesa in flames, injuring at least three civilians and damaging key infrastructure. The attack served as a grim reminder that the war continues, despite a recently discussed, limited ceasefire agreement aimed at halting strikes on energy-related infrastructure.
Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that the assault triggered power outages across three districts, suggesting possible damage to the city’s energy systems. He described scenes of devastation involving civilian infrastructure, commercial buildings, and vehicles, adding that more than 70 emergency personnel and 20 firefighting units were mobilized to control the resulting blazes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded sharply to the attack, using the moment to call for intensified international pressure on Moscow.
“Joint pressure on Russia, strengthening sanctions and defense support for our state … is the way to stop such terror,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
He emphasized that only sustained diplomatic and military pressure from the U.S., Europe, and allies would allow diplomacy to take root.
Coinciding with the strike was a visit from Czech President Peter Pavel, who met with local leaders in Odesa and other southern regions Friday morning. His presence underscored growing international concern over the relentless attacks despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
As Odesa burned, Russia countered with accusations of its own. Moscow alleged that Ukrainian forces sabotaged a gas metering station in Russia’s Kursk region, labeling it a deliberate act to undermine the recent ceasefire discussions. The gas station in question, near the town of Sudzha, had served as part of a pipeline system supplying Europe before being deactivated last year. Ukraine, however, refuted the claims, asserting that Russia’s own shelling caused the incident as part of a “discrediting campaign.”
This escalation comes just two days after a tentative ceasefire was discussed between Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, stark differences remain over the scope of what infrastructure should be protected. The White House emphasized a broad interpretation including all infrastructure, while the Kremlin narrowed the agreement strictly to energy facilities.
Zelenskyy, advocating a broader scope, expressed hope that technical negotiations in Saudi Arabia this weekend would help define the terms more clearly. “Railways, ports, and other infrastructure must also be protected,” he urged.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia is currently abiding by the ceasefire agreement, limiting its military operations to exclude strikes on energy facilities for a 30-day period. However, the Odesa attack raises questions about how Russia defines its targets—and whether non-energy infrastructure is fair game.
Elsewhere, more violence unfolded. In Zaporizhzhia, Russian glide bombs injured at least six people, including a child. Photos shared by regional governor Ivan Fedorov showed residential buildings on fire, with emergency crews on the scene.
Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 114 out of 214 drones and decoys launched in the latest Russian assault, with an additional 81 disrupted through jamming. Meanwhile, Russia claimed it downed 43 Ukrainian drones, including 34 over the Volgograd region. No significant casualties were reported on the Russian side.
In the southern Russian Krasnodar region, an oil depot continued to burn uncontrollably for a second day after being hit by a Ukrainian drone. The blaze further escalates the energy warfare now characteristic of this conflict.
As each side trades accusations and attacks, the ceasefire’s effectiveness and scope remain ambiguous, adding to the already murky diplomatic landscape. The Odesa attack makes clear that despite official pronouncements, hostilities on the ground continue with devastating consequences.
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