Ukraine war: Russian missiles hit Odesa on WWII anniversary

Paulin Kola - BBC News
·2 min read
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Rescuers work at the site of Russian air strikes in the village of Lyptsi, Kharkiv region, 10 April 2024.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian targets in the past few months [Reuters]

Russian missile strikes in Ukraine's Odesa region have killed four people, including a 10-year-old girl.

Seven others were wounded, said Governor Oleh Kiper - one had his legs amputated. Mr Kiper said transport infrastructure had been damaged.

The strikes coincide with the 80th anniversary of the city's liberation from the Nazis during World War Two.

Three people were also killed in Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region earlier on Wednesday, officials said.

Russia's recent attacks have targeted Ukraine's energy sector in particular.

Ukrainian officials accuse Russian forces of using double-tap tactics in which a missile strike is followed by a second which aims to kill those who go to rescue people hit by the first.

Governor Kiper said ballistic missiles had been used in the strikes on Odesa between 18:00 and 18:30 (15:00-15:30 GMT) on Wednesday.

He did not specify how many.

In the Kharkiv region, two women and a 14-year-old girl died in the village of Lyptsi when a pharmacy was hit, said regional Governor Oleh Synehubov.

Attacks on Kharkiv, the closest big city to the Russian border, have been intensifying in recent weeks.

Ukrainian officials have said the city might be the target of a future Russian offensive.

The country's second-largest city has suffered extensive damage from months of Russian bombardment since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine has been suffering setbacks on the ground in the past few months.

Ukrainian troops have been running out of ammunition as vital US support has been held up by supporters of former President Donald Trump in Congress.

The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has been refusing to call a vote on a bill that would provide $60bn (£48bn) in military aid for Ukraine.

The US's top general in Europe told Congress on Wednesday that Ukraine would run out of artillery shells and air defence interceptors "in fairly short order" without American support.

Gen Christopher Cavoli said Russia was currently firing five artillery shells for every one fired by Ukrainian forces - a disparity which could soon increase to 10 to one.

"Without our support, they will not be able to prevail," Gen Cavoli said.