Russia launched a major drone attack on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa late on April 21, injuring at least three people, local officials reported.
The strike hit a residential building in a densely populated area, according to Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov. The impact caused fires and damaged several apartments. Emergency services responded quickly to control the flames and assist those affected.
Regional Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed that three people were injured in the attack and are currently receiving medical care.
This latest assault comes as Ukraine awaits a response from Russia regarding a proposed ban on long-range strikes against civilian infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the issue on April 21, stating that Kyiv is still waiting for a “clear answer” from Moscow.
Zelensky introduced the idea of a limited ceasefire on April 20, just as Russia’s brief “Easter truce” was ending. Despite the truce, Ukraine reported over 3,000 Russian violations. However, the president noted that the country did experience a rare moment of calm, with no air raid alarms on Easter Day.
The Ukrainian proposal calls for a halt to long-range drone and missile attacks on civilian targets for at least 30 days, with the possibility of extending the pause. The aim is to reduce harm to civilians and create space for further peace talks.
On April 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to discussing the proposal and expressed a generally “positive attitude” toward peace efforts. However, he did not commit to any specific measures or agree to the ban.
The attack on Odesa, targeting civilians and civilian homes, stands as Russia’s only concrete response to Ukraine’s proposal so far.
