Russia launches 232 drones at Ukraine; Odesa, Zaporizhzhia hit, 4,000 lose power
Russia launched 232 drones against Ukraine overnight on 29 May, one of the largest recent attacks, Ukraine's Air Defence said. Interceptors downed 217 drones, but strikes in Odesa left about 4,000 people without electricity and hit three commercial vessels in the Black Sea, injuring two crew members. In Zaporizhzhia, three people were injured when a residential area was struck.
Russia launched 232 drones against Ukraine overnight on 29 May, one of the largest recent aerial attacks, Ukraine's Air Defence said. Interceptors downed 217 of the drones, but strikes in the southern city of Odesa and the Zaporizhzhia region caused casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
In Odesa, regional governor Oleh Kiper said the attacks left around 4,000 people without electricity. No fatalities were reported. Russian drones also struck three commercial vessels sailing along Ukraine's maritime corridor in the Black Sea, injuring two crew members.
In the Zaporizhzhia region, three people were injured after a strike hit a residential area on Friday morning, according to Ukraine's emergency services and local authorities. An elderly woman was among those hurt. Apartment buildings, vehicles and local infrastructure sustained damage. Firefighters were deployed to extinguish blazes caused by the attack, including a fire linked to a damaged gas pipe.
The assault follows a pattern of intensified Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure in late May. On 27 May, a Russian drone strike on Odesa civilian infrastructure injured 11 people, including two children. On 26 May, Russian shelling caused power outages in six Ukrainian regions.