Nighttime Attack in Odesa Kills Elderly Couple, Injures 15
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ODESA, Ukraine — A nighttime strike on residential buildings in Odesa killed an elderly couple and injured at least 15 other people early Thursday, local officials said.
The attack occurred around 5:46 a.m. local time, sending debris through windows and damaging several apartment blocks in the southern port city. Emergency crews rushed to the scene shortly after the explosions, clearing rubble and treating the wounded at makeshift triage centers set up nearby.
Rescue teams pulled the bodies of the two victims from the wreckage of a damaged building. Authorities identified them as a married couple in their late 70s who had lived in the apartment for decades. Fifteen others were taken to local hospitals with injuries ranging from broken bones to shrapnel wounds. Doctors described the condition of most patients as stable, though several remain in critical care.
City officials have not released details about the weapon used in the strike or the origin of the attack. The incident marks the latest in a series of overnight assaults on civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike.
Residents described a scene of chaos in the hours following the blast. "We heard a loud boom and then the windows shattered," said one neighbor who asked not to be named. "People were running out into the street. It was dark, and everyone was screaming."
Local authorities have cordoned off the affected neighborhoods as investigators examine the damage. Utility crews are working to restore power and water to the area, which was cut off during the emergency response.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, though officials have not linked the incident to any specific military operation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously warned of continued threats to civilian areas, but no official statement has been issued regarding this specific event.
Questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the strike. Investigators are working to determine the source of the attack and whether additional damage may emerge in the coming days. Emergency services remain on high alert in Odesa as the city recovers from the incident.