Russian Missiles Damage Residential Buildings in Odesa, Injure at Least Six
Russia carried out a missile attack on Odesa overnight on Aug. 9, 2026, damaging residential buildings and injuring at least six people amid ongoing Ukraine strikes. [1] Officials noted that the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear from initial reports. [1]
Russian Missile Strike Hits Odesa Residential Areas
Russia carried out a missile attack on Odesa overnight on Aug. 9, damaging residential buildings and injuring at least six people in the city, officials said. [1] While officials have not yet released detailed information on the attack, photos and videos posted to social media show fires burning at several high-rise residential buildings and homes in the city. [1] The full extent of the damage caused was not immediately clear. [1] Serhii Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, reported that buildings have been damaged in several districts of the city. [1] Car fires were also seen in Odesa. [1] Lysak said that emergency crews are providing assistance to the injured victims. [1] The number of casualties stemming from the attack may rise. [1]
Timeline of Warnings and Explosions
Ukraine's Air Force warned of the attack beginning around 3:30 a.m. local time moments prior to explosions being heard in the city, with additional waves of missile attacks reported later into the night. [1] This sequence unfolded as Russia carried out the missile attack on Odesa overnight on Aug. 9. [1] The warnings came ahead of the sounds of explosions, followed by further reports of missile activity through the night. [1]
Extent of Damage and Emergency Response
Fires broke out at several high-rise residential buildings and homes in the city following the Russian missile attack on Odesa overnight on Aug. 9. [1] Car fires were also seen in Odesa, with buildings damaged in several districts of the city. [1] Serhii Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, reported that emergency crews are providing assistance to the injured victims. [1] The number of casualties stemming from the attack may rise. [1] The full extent of the damage caused was not immediately clear from the initial assessments. [1]
Odesa's Role as Frequent Target
Located in southern Ukraine off the Black Sea, the port city of Odesa has served as a regular target of Russian attacks given its proximity to Russian-occupied Crimea. [1] Russian forces have intensified attacks on Odesa and the surrounding region this summer, coinciding with the peak tourist season, when thousands of visitors travel to the Black Sea coast. [1] The city has been targeted with both drones and missiles, including Banderol missiles, which Russia has used to strike port infrastructure in the region. [1] The attacks have also damaged dozens of civilian vessels passing through Odesa’s ports and caused casualties among crew members. [1]
Broader Strike Escalation Across Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first official visit to Serbia on Saturday as Ukraine seeks to bolster international support in the face of intensifying Russian strikes. [2] After another intense bombardment of Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight killed at least four people, diplomacy remains at a standstill more than four years after the start of Russia’s large-scale offensive against Ukraine. [2] The two countries are ramping up long-range strikes, causing a growing number of civilian casualties. [2] Moscow has significantly upped its attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, typically firing salvos of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles in short blitzes, with Ukraine pleading for more US-made Patriot interceptors. [2] Kyiv, in turn, has been firing record numbers of drones at Russia in retaliation. [2]
Zelensky's Serbia Visit Amid Strikes
Zelensky received a ceremonial welcome as talks with his counterpart Aleksandar Vucic got under way at the presidential palace. [2] A senior Ukrainian official earlier described Zelensky’s visit to Moscow’s traditional ally Serbia as “a slap in the face for the Russians”. [2] Serbia is historically close to Russia and Vucic has refused to sanction Moscow, a move that has irked the EU and slowed Belgrade’s path to joining the bloc. [2] Zelensky had dinner on Friday with Vucic, who repeated this week that he will not change his mind on sanctions, ahead of the talks. [2] “We will discuss expanding economic ties between our countries, relations with the European Union, other areas that can benefit our nations, and security issues,” Zelensky said on X. [2] After arriving at the palace on Saturday morning, the leaders posed for photos before talks began behind closed doors. [2] They are later due to address the media. [2] Zelensky has not visited Serbia since he became president in 2019. [2] Although heavily dependent on cheap Russian gas and one of the rare European leaders to still visit Moscow, Vucic has also supplied non-military aid to Kyiv. [2] The Kremlin has accused Serbian firms of selling munitions to Ukraine, a claim Vucic has repeatedly denied. [2] Vucic went to Ukraine for a regional summit in 2025 and visited Kyiv this year. [2] He has promised assistance to Ukraine but avoided signing a formal declaration of support in the war. [2]
What to watch next: Officials are expected to provide updates on the casualty count from the Odesa attack as emergency crews continue their work, while Zelensky and Vucic are scheduled to address the media following their closed-door talks on economic ties and security issues.
