Shahed attack on Odesa: 12 people killed, including five children

On the night of March 2nd a 9-storey building in Odesa was destroyed due to an attack by Russian terrorists. Following the rescue operation, it was discovered that 12 residents, including children, had been killed as a result of the Russian assault.

Initially, the report indicated 2 fatalities and 7 injuries.

«In Odesa, a 9-storey building fell victim to an attack by Russian terrorists, resulting in at least two confirmed fatalities. Rescuers successfully recovered the bodies from the debris. Additionally, seven people sustained injuries, including a child», – as was reported by the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

Dog handlers participated in the search, while psychologists from both the police and the State Emergency Service offered psychological assistance at the scene. Additionally, heating stations were promptly deployed to address the impact of the shelling, which left a dozen apartment buildings without a heat supply.

Overall, the Russians deployed 8 «Shahed» drones in the Odesa region, with the Air Defence Forces successfully intercepting 7 of them. The drones exhibited an unexpected and continuously changing trajectory. One of the drones, maneuvering amidst residential areas of Odesa, struck a 9-storey building.

On Hromadske Radio, military and political commentator Oleksandr Kovalenko suggested that the Russians targeted it with a drone equipped with a thermobaric warhead.

«It’s true that the Russians have been experimenting with various warheads aimed at increasing either the scale of destruction or the power of the explosion itself. This isn’t the first time information has surfaced regarding Russia’s attempts to integrate thermobaric warheads of their own production into a Shahed», — remarked the expert.

A thermobaric warhead distinguishes itself from classical explosives by delivering significantly higher yield for the same weight.

«After nuclear weapons, thermobaric weapons rank second in terms of power among conventional types. Therefore, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that this particular Shahed was equipped with this type of munition», — added Kovalenko.

A total of 8 deceased individuals were recovered from the rubble during the rescue operation on March 2nd, including 2 children.

«Currently, the confirmed casualties stand at eight. Among them are three men aged 35, 40, and 54, two women aged 73 and 31, and two children—three-year-old Mark and four-month-old Timothy. The identity of a recently recovered woman is still being established», — stated Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.

A woman and her three-month-old child fell victim to a Russian UAV attack on Odesa. The death of the baby was confirmed by Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, who expressed condolences:

«Rescuers in Odesa have just uncovered the bodies of a mother and her three-month-old child. The emotions are beyond words. My condolences to the relatives of the victims… Seven people have already lost their lives due to the nighttime Russian strike on a high-rise building», — he stated.

A correspondent from Hromadske Radio in Odesa reported on the aftermath of the attack:

«When discussing the wounded, it was revealed that among them were pregnant women. Fortunately, a three-year-old child sustained only minor injuries… It’s horrifying… People mentioned they fled outside in whatever they were wearing.

I witnessed rescuers extracting a woman from the rubble. She was a survivor who had been sleeping and didn’t have time to evacuate. The woman was in a state of shock».

Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin said that the night attack on Odesa by the Russian occupiers is not just an ordinary shelling, it is a policy aimed at terrorising and destroying Ukrainians.

«This is not just shelling, this is a policy aimed at terror and destruction of Ukrainians. This is an attack on a residential building. This house is not located next to any military or dual-use facility. This house is located in a densely built-up area.

We understand that this policy starts in the Kremlin. Criminal orders are given from the Kremlin», — the Prosecutor General said at the scene of the tragedy.

He stressed that Ukraine needs additional weapons and air defence systems, as it is necessary not only to investigate such war crimes but also to stop them.

«To do this, we need the support of the world. We, as prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, together with our partners from the International Criminal Court and other countries that are conducting their own investigations, are doing everything possible to ensure that everyone who is guilty of the deaths of Ukrainians, torture and rape is brought to justice», — Kostin said.

The search and rescue operation continued on March 3rd, with an additional four bodies recovered from the rubble, including three children. The last bodies to be recovered were those of 8-year-old Zlata and her brother Serhii.

«Another tragic loss is 8-year-old Zlata, along with her brother Serhii, whose bodies are currently being uncovered by rescuers. This is an indescribable and devastating tragedy for the Odesa region and the entire nation of Ukraine. Russia’s actions are nothing short of terrorism», — stated Oleh Kiper, the head of Odesa Regional State Administration.

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, declared the conclusion of the search and rescue operation on March 3rd.

«In Odesa, the State Emergency Service rescuers have concluded the search and rescue operations. A total of 12 people were killed in the Russian strike, including five children.

Just moments ago, rescuers successfully uncovered the body of a child, a girl born in 2016. The youngest victim of this terrorist strike, a boy named Timofiy, was only 4 months old», — he remarked.

It is also known that a military family fell victim to the Russian army’s «Shahed» attack on Odesa. The couple and their seven-month-old daughter were found under the rubble.

Oleh and Tetiana Kravets were both members of the military who first met while serving. Subsequently, Tetiana resigned to care for their newborn daughter. Tragically, Oleh’s brother Yevhen lost his life in the ATO zone in 2014.

After the Russian shelling, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis responded to this attack. He expressed his reaction on the social network X (Twitter):

«This is absolutely outrageous murder. By deliberately killing babies in their sleep, Russia is declaring a clear contempt for any peace agreements, past or future. There must be serious and immediate consequences, not continued impunity», — Landsbergis stated.

He further emphasized the need for «serious and immediate consequences, not continued impunity».

This is absolutely outrageous murder. By deliberately killing babies in their sleep, Russia is declaring a clear contempt for any peace agreements, past or future. There must be serious and immediate consequences, not continued impunity. pic.twitter.com/zpSmpaBTum

— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) March 3, 2024