Russian Attack on Odesa Kills 3, Ukraine Strikes Black Sea Ships

Russia and Ukraine escalated their battle over the Black Sea and key trade routes on Wednesday, with Russian forces killing three people in an attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa and Kyiv's drone forces striking Russian shipping.

Odesa region Governor Oleh Kiper stated that Russian drone and missile strikes on the southern region continued for a fifth day, targeting civilian, industrial, and port infrastructure. Ukrainian authorities reported that three people were killed and at least three others were injured after a Russian missile hit a seven-story residential building in Odesa.

In a statement, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it continued overnight strikes on Ukrainian ports that it said were handling cargoes for the Ukrainian military. It added that a number of targets in the ports of Odesa and nearby Chornomorsk port had been hit, as well as four vessels it claimed were delivering cargoes for Ukraine's forces in the ports of Chornomorsk and Dnipro-Buh.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's top drone commander announced on Wednesday that Kyiv hit 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea overnight. These Ukrainian attacks have forced Russia, the world's top grain exporter, to restrict shipping in the Sea of Azov – a route that handles about a quarter of its grain exports, sources told Reuters.