KYIV – Russia launched massive drone strikes on Kyiv and Odesa early Tuesday, killing one civilian and injuring several others, Ukrainian officials confirmed. Among the targets was a maternity hospital, which was evacuated just in time, along with residential buildings and emergency facilities.
The attacks mark a continued escalation in the three-year conflict, following failed peace talks over the weekend that only resulted in a prisoner exchange agreement. Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of hypocrisy, claiming Russia pretends to seek peace while deliberately targeting civilians.
A 59-year-old man was killed in Odesa, where drone strikes caused fires and damaged vital infrastructure. In Kyiv, drones hit seven districts, setting buildings and vehicles ablaze. Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to stay in shelters, warning that waves of drones continued to approach.
Ukrainian President’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak called on international allies to respond with tougher sanctions and more weapons, stating: “Time to prove that democracy has power.”