Russian drone attacks struck the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight, damaging apartment buildings and energy infrastructure and injuring six people, including a toddler and two other children, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.
According to Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa regional military administration, at least four residential buildings were damaged in the bombardment. Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, said two of its facilities were hit, adding that 10 electricity substations in the region have been damaged since the start of December alone.
The attack comes as Russia continues to intensify long-range strikes on Ukrainian cities, particularly targeting power and heating infrastructure as winter deepens. Ukrainian officials say the campaign is aimed at depriving civilians of electricity, heat and water during the coldest months of the year.
The United Nations reported earlier this month that more than 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and over 11,000 injured between January and November — a 26 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2024 and a 70 per cent rise from 2023.
The latest strikes unfolded amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort on Sunday, saying a potential settlement was “closer than ever before.” Zelenskyy is expected to meet European leaders next week to discuss conditions for any agreement.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his belief in eventual victory during his New Year’s address to the nation. Praising Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, Putin described them as heroes defending “truth and justice,” adding, “We believe in you and our victory.”
Tensions have also escalated following Russian claims that Ukraine attempted to strike Putin’s residence in northwestern Russia with dozens of long-range drones earlier this week. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegation, calling it an attempt to derail peace talks. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, dismissed the claims as a “deliberate distraction.”
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy announced that Romania and Croatia have joined a NATO-backed fund that purchases U.S. weapons for Ukraine. The fund, launched in August, now includes 24 contributing countries and has received $4.3 billion to date, including nearly $1.5 billion in December alone.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 127 drones overnight, with 101 intercepted. Russia, in turn, claimed it shot down 86 Ukrainian drones, saying one attack briefly sparked a fire at an oil refinery in the Krasnodar region.
Officials on both sides said the situation remains volatile, with no independent verification available for several of the competing claims.
