1 killed in Odesa as Russia launches 300 drones at Ukraine

Moscow [Russia], July 20: Russian air strikes on Ukraine overnight into Saturday have killed one person in Odesa. The strikes come as Russia has intensified its military offensive in Ukraine, with analysts warning of potential further escalation.
Russia launched more than 300 drones and over 30 missiles towards different cities in Ukraine overnight into Saturday morning, killing at least one person and injuring several others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
"Rescue operations are underway following the attack: the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zhytomyr regions were affected," he wrote on X.
The Black Sea port city of Odesa came under fire by 20 drones and a missile, the city's mayor Hennadii Trukhanov, said Saturday on Telegram.
The strike sparked a fire in an apartment block.
Five people were rescued from their burning apartments, including one woman who died after she was rescued. At least six other people, including a child, were injured.
Meanwhile in Sumy, critical infrastructure was damaged and thousands of families were left without electricity, according to Zelensky.
Russia also launched a barrage of drones at Pavlohrad, damaging critical infrastructure and a residential building. According to the head of the Dnipro regional military administration, it was the largest attack on the city since Russia's full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian president thanked international leaders "who understand how crucial it is to promptly implement our agreements" aimed at boosting Ukraine's defense capabilities, including joint weapons production, investment in drone manufacturing and the supply of air defence systems.
In recent weeks, Russia has been intensifying its long-range attacks on Ukraine, often firing more drones in a single night than it did during some months in 2024. Analysts have warned the attacks are likely to escalate further.
On 8 July, Russia fired a record-breaking number of more than 741 drones and missiles.
Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said it shot down 71 Ukrainian drones overnight, of which 13 drones were shot down as they approached Moscow, according to the city's mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Source: Qatar Tribune