A Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region late Friday resulted in the deaths of eight people and left more than two dozen others injured, according to Ukrainian emergency officials. The attack struck port-related infrastructure, underscoring the continued vulnerability of coastal areas as international efforts to push for a negotiated end to the war accelerate.
Ukrainian authorities said the missiles hit the port town of Pivdenne, where explosions ignited fires in parked trucks and damaged nearby vehicles. Several of the victims were civilians traveling on a bus that was caught near the impact zone. Emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish fires and transport the wounded to local hospitals.
Regional officials described the strike as part of an intensified Russian assault on Odesa and surrounding areas, which serve as a critical gateway for Ukraine’s maritime trade. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the sustained attacks appear aimed at disrupting supply chains and weakening Ukraine’s economy by threatening access to the Black Sea, particularly during the winter months when logistics are already strained.
Infrastructure damage extended beyond the port itself. Ukrainian officials reported repeated strikes on a key bridge spanning the Dniester River near Mayaky, a major route connecting the region to Moldova. The bridge, which facilitates a significant share of fuel deliveries into Ukraine, is currently unusable, forcing authorities to rely on temporary crossings and longer detours for essential supplies.
Commercial facilities were also affected. An international agribusiness company confirmed that storage tanks containing sunflower oil at the port were set on fire during the attack, killing one employee and injuring two others. The incident highlights the broader economic toll of strikes on civilian-linked infrastructure.
Russia’s Defense Ministry did not directly comment on the Pivdenne strike but said its forces had carried out attacks on facilities it described as supporting Ukraine’s military and energy operations. Kyiv, meanwhile, reported launching its own drone operations against Russian targets, including military and energy-related sites, though officials said assessments of the damage were still ongoing.
The escalation on the ground coincided with renewed diplomatic activity. Ukrainian negotiators concluded meetings in the United States with American and European counterparts, agreeing to continue coordination on a proposed peace framework. At the same time, U.S. officials indicated that representatives close to President Donald Trump were preparing to meet a Russian envoy in Florida to discuss possible next steps.
The Kremlin confirmed it was open to contacts with Washington and was awaiting feedback from recent talks held with European partners. Ukrainian leaders, however, remain cautious. Speaking alongside Portugal’s prime minister in Kyiv, President Zelenskyy said it was still unclear how the United States would balance its discussions with Moscow and Kyiv.
Beyond diplomacy, international support for Ukraine continues to take shape. European Union leaders have approved a €90 billion financial package to support Ukraine’s military and economic needs over the next two years, financed through borrowing after negotiations over the use of frozen Russian assets stalled.
Despite ongoing talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Moscow will pursue its objectives through military means if its conditions are not met at the negotiating table. As a result, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with civilians in frontline regions like Odesa continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict even as global powers push for a potential path toward peace.
