A Russian drone slammed into a high-rise residential building in Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa early Saturday, killing two people and wounding at least 14, local officials said, marking the latest escalation in Moscow’s intensified air assault on Ukrainian cities.

Civilian Casualties in Odesa

Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, confirmed that among the injured were three children—one of whom is in critical condition. Emergency services footage showed responders evacuating residents through smoke-filled stairwells in the 21-story building.

Escalation in Urban Drone Warfare

The overnight attack is part of a broader surge in Russian drone and missile strikes on urban centers as diplomatic efforts to resolve the war, now in its fourth year, remain frozen. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned of increased civilian targeting by Russian forces using cheap, long-range drones.

Growing Civilian Toll

While the frontlines remain contested, cities like Odesa—key to Ukraine’s Black Sea access—are bearing the brunt of Russia’s intensified air campaign. The United Nations has documented hundreds of civilian casualties in recent weeks alone as Russia shifts tactics from battlefield attrition to infrastructure and psychological pressure.