Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack on a residential high-rise in Odesa, local authorities confirmed. Emergency responders discovered the bodies of a married couple whose apartment took a direct hit, according to Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.

The attack in Odesa is part of a broader escalation in Russian aerial assaults. Ukrainian officials report that, this week alone, drone and missile strikes have killed at least 21 civilians in Dnipro and 9 in Kyiv, as Russia intensifies its bombardments of urban centers.

Fire and rescue efforts

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) reported that the drone struck a 21-story building, triggering fires on the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors. Several residents were trapped in their apartments due to heavy smoke and debris. Emergency crews evacuated five people, including a young child.

“Preliminary reports indicate two fatalities and at least four people injured,” the SES said.

A Russian drone strike hit a high-rise in ????????Odesa, killing 2 and injuring 9.

A direct hit on the 9th floor set the building ablaze.

???? A rescuer carries out a smoke-inhaled 3-year-old as his mother runs behind.

“The blast wave threw us. Our neighbor was covered in blood.” pic.twitter.com/VSzbApM2po

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) June 28, 2025

Six injured, including two young children

The Odesa Regional Administration initially reported six people injured: four adults and two children, ages seven and three. Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that the 7-year-old boy is in moderate condition, while the 3-year-old suffered from smoke inhalation. All four adults were also hospitalized in moderate condition.

Police: Nine injured in total

Ukrainian police later updated the casualty count, stating that at least nine people were injured, including the two children. The drone made a direct hit on the 9th floor, severely damaging that level. The blast wave also impacted the 8th and 10th floors, with other parts of the building sustaining collateral damage.

Eyewitness: “We were thrown by the blast wave’

A resident of the damaged building shared her account with local outlet Dumska:

“There was an air raid alert. I heard a Shahed drone approaching—it was getting louder. I managed to reach the hallway just in time. The blast wave threw my husband and me. Fortunately, we weren’t seriously hurt. I saw fires on the lower floors. Our neighbor was badly injured—covered in blood—his wife was screaming. While my husband helped him, I gathered our documents. Together with our neighbors, we carried him outside on a blanket and evacuated.”

Ongoing emergency response

Emergency crews continue working at the scene, and local authorities are assessing structural damage and providing aid to affected residents.