Russian Drone Strike in Odesa Kills Three, Injures 15

At least three people were killed and 15 others injured during a Russian drone strike on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa on April 6, 2026.

The attack targeted a multi-story residential building, causing significant destruction between the third and fifth floors. Among the dead were a 30-year-old woman, her two-year-old daughter, and a 53-year-old woman, according to regional authorities.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper reported that 15 people were injured in the strike. Among the wounded are a pregnant woman and two young children—a seven-month-old boy and a two-year-old girl—as well as two teenagers aged 17 and 18.

Urban Damage and Rescue Efforts

The drone strikes caused widespread damage across several districts of Odesa. In the Prymorskyi district, a residential high-rise complex and seven private homes were damaged. In the Kyivskyi district, another apartment building was hit, along with five private homes, a private preschool, a store, and 27 vehicles.

Governor Kiper stated that residential buildings, administrative buildings, and critical infrastructure were hit. Emergency responders extinguished fires despite repeated air raid alerts during the operations, and search and rescue efforts continued on April 6, 2026, due to concerns that victims remained trapped under rubble.

Authorities in the Odesa region declared April 6, 2026, a day of mourning for the victims of the attack.

Scale of the Air Attack

Ukrainian air defense forces reported that the Russian air strike involved 141 drones, of which 114 were intercepted. The attack extended beyond Odesa, with strikes in the northern Chernihiv region leaving approximately 340,000 people without power.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the drones damaged a kindergarten and a district power substation in addition to residential buildings. Zelenskyy urged international partners to strengthen air defenses to increase the interception rate of missiles and drones, adding that Russia has no intention of stopping its invasion.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called for increased pressure on Moscow, stating on X that Russian child murderers should only face sanctions, isolation, and accountability.

Ukrainian Counter-Strikes

On April 6, 2026, Ukraine carried out several strikes against Russian targets. The Ukrainian military reported hitting a drilling rig near occupied Crimea and a Russian warship in the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk.

Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces, identified the target in Novorossiisk as the Admiral Makarov missile carrier. Russian regional authorities reported that the Ukrainian drone strikes in Novorossiisk injured at least eight people.

Ukraine continued strikes on Russian oil export facilities. These operations are intended to prevent Moscow from capitalizing on increased demand for Russian oil resulting from decreased supply from the Middle East during the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran.