The first Russian airstrikes against Odessa occurred on the first day of the invasion, early on 24 February, targeting warehouses in the city as well as radar and air defense systems in Lipetks. The attacks left at least 22 killed and 6 wounded among servicemen and soldiers. Ukrainian authorities also reported that Russian shelling targeted the military airport in Odessa and destroyed one aircraft.Russian saboteurs had begun operating in Odessa by 27 February, as Ukrainian authorities detained them and confiscated their equipment. Evacuation trains began taking civilians out of the city towards Chernivtsi and Uzhhorod on 2 March, with further evacuation trains operating on 8 March.
At around 12:00 local time on 2 March, Russian forces shelled the village of Dachne to the north-west of Odessa, damaging a natural gas pipeline and setting fire to nine houses and a garage. This was followed on 3 March by the shelling of the nearby villages of Zatokaand Bilenke, killing at least one civilian in the latter village. Russian warships also shelled the Ukrainian civilian vessel Helt in the port of Odessa, causing it to sink.
On 5 March, one Russian Mil Mi-8 of registration number RF-91165 was destroyed near Odessa. A new brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine was founded in Odessa on 8 March, after initial complaints by civilians in the city wishing to join the defence force of a lack of organisation as they were sent home without weapons
Russian attacks in Odessa intensified towards the end of March. During the morning of 21 March, Russian warships reappeared offshore and began shelling targets in Odessa including the port, before Ukrainian coastal artillery returned fire and drove them back out into the Black Sea. On 25 March, Ukrainian air defences claimed to shot down three cruise missiles over the Black Sea which were on course to strike targets in and around Odessa. Ukraine claimed two more Russian cruise missiles were shot down off the coast of Odessa on 27 March,although the city subsequently came under heavy mortar fire according to a statement on Telegram by Serhii Bratchuk, spokesman for the Odessa military administration.
On 13 April, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych and Odesa governor Maksym Marchenko said that the Russian cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, had been hit by two Neptune anti-ship missiles and was on fire in rough seas.The missiles were apparently launched in or near Odesa at Moskva located 60 to 65 nautical miles offshore. The Russian Ministry of Defence said that a fire had caused munitions to explode, and that the ship had been seriously damaged and the crew fully evacuated, without any reference to a Ukrainian strike. The following day, the ship sunk as it was attempting to reach port for repairs.Russia stated one sailor from the Moskva was killed and 27 were missing, while 396 crewmembers were rescued.
On 23 April, a Russian missile strike hit a military facility and two residential buildings, killing eight civilians and wounding 18 or 20, according to Ukraine.Russia confirmed the attack stating the facility targeted was a logistic terminal at a military airfield that housed US and European weapons given to Ukraine.
On 27 April, Russian forces attacked and destroyed the Zatoka bridge with the aim of disconnect the city of Odessa with the rest of the country at the east of Dniester river.
Shopping mall in Fontanka village near Odessa, destroyed on 9 May
On 1 May, Ukrainian President Zelensky said that Russian forces destroyed the newly built runway of the Odessa Airport. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces used a Bastion missile for the attack.The city was bombed again on 7 May, with four missiles hitting a civilian building and another two on the city airport.
On May 9, Russia fired three Kinzhal missiles to Odessa Oblast. At that time, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal were in Odessa and had to hide in a bomb shelter. In the evening of the same day, Russian troops fired rockets at three warehouses in Odessa and a shopping center in the village of Fontanka near the city. One person was killed, and two people were injured in the warehouses, and three people were injured in the mall.
On 16 May, as a result of a missile strike in the Odessa region by strategic aircraft, the tourist infrastructure was damaged, including several neighbouring private buildings.
Four people were injured, including a 6-year-old girl who were instantly dispatched to the hospital, according to a statement of Operational Command South on Facebook.
11 сен 2024
