Overnight into 13 September, Russia attacked Ukraine’s Odesa and Sumy oblasts with 44 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 one-way attack drones as Ukrainian air defenses shot down 32 of them, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Local authorities say the attack injured seven civilians.
The Air Force says Russian forces launched the Shaheds from three directions – Kursk Oblast near Ukraine’s northeastern border, Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea, and Russia’s Primorsko-Akhtarsk on the Azov Sea Coast. The main targets of the attack were the southern districts of Odesa Oblast and the region’s port infrastructure.
During the attack, explosions were heard in northern Sumy City, and an air alert was declared in Sumy Oblast. The regional authorities said air defense forces destroyed three Shaheds in the oblast’s skies.
Odesa Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Kiper reported that several groups of the “kamikaze” drones attacked Izmail district, hitting port infrastructure, and non-residential buildings, and starting a fire in a truck park. Seven drivers were taken to hospital with injuries of varying severity, according to Kiper.
Later Kiper updated that the attack on Izmail district injured seven people, with six of those in Reni town, and one in Izmail. Two men from Reni were hospitalized in the intensive care unit in serious condition. Four others were in moderate condition. The victim from Izmail received medical care and was already discharged from hospital at the time of the report.
Ukraine South Defense Forces (USDF) said the night attack on Odesa Oblast lasted for 4.5 hours and targeted “the civilian infrastructure of the Danube area.”
Last night's Russian drone attack targeted the Danube river port area in Odesa Oblast, injuring seven civilians as Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 32 of 44 Iranian-made Shahed one-way attack drones involved in the attack https://t.co/tK1WJYNUB0… pic.twitter.com/XePkOd0ixC
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) September 13, 2023
Russia has been carrying out drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure far behind the frontlines almost daily.
Read also:
- Ukraine destroys all 12 Shahed drones in Russia’s night air attack
- Ukraine downs 26 of 33 drones during Russia’s nighttime attack on Kyiv
- Shahed drones in Romania: Bucharest summons Russian diplomat
- Zelenskyy: Ukraine to receive more Gepard AA tanks to protect energy infrastructure
- Bodycam captures first minutes of rescue operation after Russian strike on police station in Ukraine’s south
- Ukraine downs all eight Russian missiles, 15 of 25 drone during night attack
- Russia targets Odesa river ports with 25 kamikaze drones, Ukraine downs 22 of those
