Ukraine: Russian Strikes Kill Six, Wound 20; Kyiv Claims Bomber Destroyed

At least six people died and 20 were injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian authorities reported Friday. The assaults struck multiple regions, including southern port cities and the southeastern Zaporizhzhia area.

In Odesa, two civilians were killed and 10 injured when strikes hit the port city. Regional military administration head Oleh Kiper noted one of the injured was a woman walking in a park with her children, who survived. In the nearby city of Mykolaiv, prosecutors stated that a Russian drone attack damaged three civilian vessels, killing two people on board.

Further southeast, in the Zaporizhzhia region, two individuals were killed and five wounded by a Russian strike, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its strikes in Odesa targeted port infrastructure used by the Ukrainian military and a drone production facility, though Ukrainian sources reported no damage to port facilities there.

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, three people were injured by shelling. Russia also fired glide bombs into the Sumy region, damaging residential buildings and injuring one person. Operations at a gas production facility in Kharkiv were suspended after a drone attack, according to Naftogaz, though the extent of damage is still being assessed.

President Zelenskyy stated that Russia deployed over 130 drones and eight missiles overnight. He also reported that Ukraine destroyed a strategic Tu-95 bomber at Russia's Engels airbase, approximately 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Separately, Ukraine's drone forces commander Robert Brovdi claimed that several Russian ships, including cargo vessels, a tanker, and a tugboat, were hit in the Black Sea. Brovdi stated these strikes aim to disrupt transport of oil, fuel, and cargo used to circumvent sanctions, adding that 159 Russian vessels have been attacked since July 6.

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We are defending ourselves justly and proactively.