In Odesa, the number of victims of nighttime Russian shelling is increasing. One of the drones hit a residential building, collapsing 18 apartments there. Local authorities have already reported four dead, including a 3-year-old child.
The attack took place around two o'clock in the morning, Oleg Kiper, the head of Odesa OVA, reported that several high-rise buildings were damaged, and they began to search for people under the rubble.
Soon it became known about the first dead.
AUTHOR OF THE PHOTO, DSNS Caption of the photo, Rescuers are trying to retrieve the body of a dead child, who was found a few hours later under the rubble
Closer to noon, the State Emergency Service reported that the body of a dead 3-year-old child was found under rubble on the first floor.
Local authorities reported that the other dead included an elderly woman and a young man.
The search operation continues.
PHOTO AUTHOR, REUTERS Photo caption, A collapsed building in Odessa
Another eight people were injured, including a 3-year-old boy with minor injuries, a moderately pregnant woman, and a 26-year-old "heavy" girl, the local authorities write.
AUTHOR OF THE PHOTO, State Emergency Service of the Odesa Region
AUTHOR OF THE PHOTO, State Emergency Service of the Odesa Region
Several people were saved. At least one man was pulled alive from the rubble. The rescuers' video shows that the man was obviously drunk. OVA suggests that he was in the basement when he was hit.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims.
"We need more air defense from our partners. It is necessary to strengthen the Ukrainian air shield to add protection to our people from Russian terror. More air defense systems, more missiles for air defense is what saves lives," the president said.
PHOTO AUTHOR, ODESKA OVA Photo caption, The rescue operation in Odesa lasted all night and continues
The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that on the night of March 2, Russia attacked Ukraine with guided air missiles Kh-59/Kh-35 with TOT 17 strike drones.
14 out of 17 drones were shot down, but there were hits and debris falling in Odesa and Kharkiv regions.
A 76-year-old man died in the village of Velikiy Burluk in the Kharkiv region, local authorities say.
Houses, cars and garages were damaged in Kharkiv. Three people turned to medical workers because of an acute reaction to stress, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reports.
