Russia has reportedly launched air attacks on targets in southern and eastern Ukraine, utilising drones and possibly ballistic missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force. The Ukrainian air force issued a warning on the Telegram messaging app, stating that the southern port of Odesa and several regions, including Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk, were at risk of Russian drone attacks.

Additionally, the air force expressed concerns that Russia may be employing ballistic weaponry to target regions such as Poltava, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Kirovohrad. Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region’s military administration, confirmed that air defence systems in the area were actively defending against a Russian drone attack, anticipating multiple waves of assaults.

The attack on the Odesa region, situated in southern Ukraine and home to vital maritime terminals, occurred shortly after Russia declined to extend a deal that allowed for the safe export of Ukrainian grain from ports on the Black Sea. Last year, during Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian Black Sea ports were blockaded by Russian warships until an agreement was reached in July 2022, permitting the passage of critical grain exports from Ukraine. However, Russia decided not to extend the Black Sea grain deal, claiming that certain aspects of the agreement related to the export of Russian food and fertilizers had not been fulfilled.

There have been reports on social media suggesting that Iranian-made Shahed drones were involved in attacks on targets in the Mykolaiv region