Russian drone strikes last night damaged civilian and transport infrastructure overnight across Ukraine, injuring several people and disrupting services. The attack involved 86 drones launched from six directions, with confirmed hits in Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and Zhytomyr Oblast, including a freight train derailment and destruction of public buildings.
Zhytomyr Oblast: freight train derailed, injuries reported
Several civilians were hospitalized after Russian drones hit critical infrastructure in Zhytomyr Oblast during the night of 21-22 December, according to the head of the oblast, Vitalii Bunechko. Air raid alerts were issued several times across the oblast, with the most intense activity recorded in the Korosten and Zhytomyr districts. Pyrotechnic teams inspected the strike sites, and emergency crews extinguished fires and began recovery work.
Ukraine's railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) reported that a freight train derailed near Korosten due to an explosion, possibly the detonation of a Shahed-type drone. Two crew members were taken to hospital, and later updates from the State Emergency Service (DSNS) confirmed that four railway workers in total were injured. The locomotive of a passenger train on a parallel track also derailed after making an emergency stop; a female passenger suffered a glass injury and received assistance at the scene.
Train services across the region faced delays of up to three hours. Several routes from Poland and cities such as Kharkiv, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk were affected. Some trains were rerouted, UZ said. Repair crews are working on restoring the line.
Odesa: power outage and one man injured
Two Russian drone strikes hit Odesa overnight, damaging critical infrastructure and leaving part of one district without electricity. A 30-year-old man was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds in moderate condition. According to Odesa City Military Administration chief Serhii Lysak, windows in a residential building were also damaged by blast waves.
Three air raid alerts were issued in Odesa during the night and late evening due to the threat of strike drones, Suspilen noted. Municipal services were deployed to manage the aftermath and conduct emergency repairs.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: passport office destroyed in Kryvyi Rih
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russia targeted Kryvyi Rih and Pavlohrad. According to the head of the oblast administration, Vladyslav Haivanenko, fires broke out after drones struck vehicles and a non-operational building in Pavlohrad. In Kryvyi Rih, drones damaged two apartment buildings, several cars, and an Administrative Services Center.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvyi Rih’s Defense Council, stated that the “I’m a Veteran” services center was destroyed, while the main “Visa” center was heavily damaged. Both offices suspended operations. No casualties were reported.
Drones also struck Synelnykove and Nikopol districts, damaging one-family homes. Local air defense reportedly downed three drones over the region.
Air Force: 58 of 86 drones downed, hits in 12 locations
The Ukrainian Air Force said that between 19:00 on 21 December and the early hours of 22 December, Russia launched 86 strike drones — with "over 50" of them being long-range Shahed kamikaze UAVs — from six launch areas including Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and occupied Crimea and Donetsk oblasts. Aviation, missile units, electronic warfare systems, drone units, and mobile fire teams participated in the defense.
By 08:30, air defenses had downed or suppressed 58 drones in the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country. However, 26 drones impacted targets in 12 different locations, and one location was affected by falling debris from an intercepted drone.
