Russia launched a massive aerial attack on Odesa overnight, killing one civilian and injuring at least 14. The aerial aggression came just hours after Vladimir Putin claimed he wanted peace and said he was prepared to hold one-to-one talks even with Volodymr Zelensky, despite undermining the wartime leader’s authority, saying the Ukrainian president had no right to sign a peace deal.
The bombardment is just the latest in a series of brutal strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in cities and towns across Ukraine. Seven residential buildings were hit in the latest nighttime raid, causing large-scale fires to break out. Over 600 people had to be evacuated from a 23-storey building after three floors – the 18th to 20th – caught fire. A four-storey building was also “completely engulfed in flames,” according to the State Emergency Service.
Three firefighters were injured when structural elements from the building collapsed on them as they fought to contain the blaze.
They were rushed to hospital for treatment and are now said to be in a stable condition.
Photos posted to social media channels and shared by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service show the building bombed out and a fire raging out of control.
A fireman can be seen rescuing a woman dressed in her nightie from a window, as black smoke pours out from behind her.
A resident from another block of flats struck in the attack had a lucky escape and shot a video showing the damage to their apartment.
Debris lies strewn across what appears to be the living room, with the window blown out and the ceiling caving in.
Odesa’s main train station was also hit in the drone attack, with officials reporting some structural damage to the transport hub.
“The overhead contact line and the rail and sleeper grid were affected,” the railway agency wrote in a statement, adding that no injuries had been reported.
Civilian deaths and injuries in Ukraine have risen by a staggering 50% so far this year, according to the United Nations.
“This year has been devastating for civilians across Ukraine, with significantly more deaths and injuries than during the same period in 2024,” the UN’s Danielle Bell said.
“The intensification of long-range attacks with missiles and loitering munitions and frequent attacks with short-range drones along the frontline are a deadly combination for civilians.”
Long-range missile and drone attacks caused the largest proportion of civilian casualties – some 28% during May.
The UN noted that long-range attacks have intensified again in June. Since the sixth of the month, Russian forces have launched over 1,500 long-range weapons, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Speaking on Wednesday on the sidelines of an economic forum held in St Petersburg, said he was ready to talk about ending the war he started in February 2022. However, he didn’t signal he’d be keen on making any substantial concessions.
He said: “We need to find a solution that would not only put an end to the current conflict but also create conditions that would prevent similar situations from recurring in the long term.”