Ukrainian Officials Report 21 Wounded in Third Consecutive Night of Russian Air Raids on Southern Ukraine

Southern Ukrainian cities, including the port of Odesa, faced a third consecutive night of Russian air raids, resulting in at least 21 injured individuals, according to Ukrainian authorities on Thursday.

Mykolaiv, a city near the Black Sea in the south, saw at least 19 people wounded overnight. The news was announced by Vitalii Kim, Governor of the region, via a statement on Telegram.

Russian assaults on southern Ukraine intensified this week, following President Vladimir Putin’s decision to withdraw Russia from an agreement permitting Ukraine to export grain to countries facing potential famine.

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Earlier this week, Moscow pledged a “response” for an attack that damaged a vital bridge linking Russia and Crimea, a territory annexed by Moscow. Russian officials pointed the finger at Ukraine for the attack.

In Mykolaiv, Russian bombardments razed several floors of a three-story building, leading to a fire that engulfed 450 square meters (4,800 square feet) and burned for several hours. Two individuals, including a child, were admitted to the hospital, as reported by the regional governor.

In Odesa, a port city, at least two people were injured following a Russian air raid which damaged buildings in the city center and sparked a fire covering an area of 300 square meters (3,200 square feet), Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed.

These strikes followed a heavy Russian assault using drones and missiles the day prior, which damaged crucial port infrastructure in Odesa, including grain and oil terminals, resulting in the destruction of at least 60,000 tons of grain.

The European Union’s head of foreign affairs expressed his condemnation of Russia’s targeting of grain storage facilities.

“Over 60,000 tons of grain has been incinerated,” commented Josep Borrell in Brussels on Thursday, reflecting on Moscow’s recent actions. “They not only pull out of the grain agreement… but they’re incinerating the grain.”

Additionally, on Wednesday, the White House issued a warning that Russia is planning potential attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, a development that could unsettle shippers and spike grain prices further.

White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge stated that Russia has placed more sea mines near the entrances to Ukrainian ports.

“We think this is a coordinated effort to legitimize any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea and falsely accuse Ukraine for these attacks,” the statement read.

In the Moscow-annexed territory of Crimea, an “enemy drone”—presumed to refer to Ukraine—attacked a settlement in the peninsula’s northwest, according to the region’s Moscow-appointed governor Sergei Aksyonov on Thursday. He reported that the attack damaged multiple administrative buildings and claimed the life of a teenage girl.

Meanwhile, the Belarusian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that the country’s military continues to participate in training exercises with fighters from the Wagner private military contractor, near the Polish border.

The exercises are set to continue for a week, the ministry posted on Telegram, and pledged to provide further details later.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who mediated an agreement that halted a rebellion last month led by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, suggested that the Belarusian military could gain from the mercenaries’ combat experience.

Contribution from Raf Casert in Brussels.

For AP’s ongoing coverage of the Ukraine war, visit https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine

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• Russia-Ukraine Conflict
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• Ukraine Grain Deal
• Russian Actions in the Black Sea