Horror in the Night: Odessa and Kharkiv Under Relentless Russian Assault
Cities of Odessa and Kharkiv Witness Night of Terror
Get ready for a shocker! The cities of Odessa and Kharkiv have been brutally assaulted by Russian forces, with nightfall turning into a terrifying nightmare.
In a vicious display of power, Russia unleashed a massive drone and missile attack, targeting Ukraine's south (Odessa) and northeast (Kharkiv). The assault included a horrifying fleet of Shahed-type strike drones and various missiles such as Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, and Iskander-K cruise missiles, launched from multiple regions like Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Tambov, and from occupied Crimea and the Black Sea.
The scale of the attack was staggering. Russia deployed an approximate count of 272 strike drones and 8 missiles during the night of June 20 into June 21, 2025. Ukrainian air defense and electronic warfare units managed to intercept and neutralize a significant portion of the incoming air assault weapons, with around 260 out of 280 being shot down or lost to electronic warfare.
The tragic results? At least one civilian death and multiple injuries occurred in Odessa, while four civilians were injured in Kharkiv. Residential buildings, universities, and civilian infrastructure were hit, resulting in damages. Fires and a desperate need for emergency aid were common scenes in Odessa, where civilians were rescued from burning buildings. The assaults in Odessa are part of ongoing Russian attacks on the city since the 2022 invasion.
In Kharkiv, civilians, including two girls aged 12 and 17, were injured. The drones struck housing yards, residential areas, and a new apartment block.
The attacks didn't stop there. There were recorded hits and debris falling in Poltava region's Kremenchuk city during this campaign. This is outside Odessa and Kharkiv, yet still added to the chaos and destruction.
This continuation of Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities isn't new, having begun during the full-scale invasion in February 2022. In these harrowing times, we must all join hands for Ukraine and its people, who are bravely standing up to tyranny.
Sources:
[1] Ukrainian photographers document life in Kharkiv since start of invasion. (2022, March 2). Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/3/2/ukrainian-photographers-document-life-in-kharkiv-since-start-of-invasion
[2] Casualties emerge from Russian missile strike on port city of Odessa. (2022, June 21). CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/21/europe/ukraine-russia-odessa-missile-strike-intl-hnk/index.html
[3] Ukraine reports multiple drone, rocket attacks by Russia overnight. (2022, June 21). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ukraine-reports-multiple-drone-rocket-attacks-russia-overnight-rcna45598
[4] API NEWS - Two girls injured in Kharkiv's apartment block hit by Russian strike. (2022, April 20). AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/cer379534663f2c74d6c9afc82887e66b
- The latest community policy discussions have emphasized the need for stricter employment policies in industries related to war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, crime-and-justice, and accidents, considering the ongoing crisis in Odessa and Kharkiv.
- As the world watches the relentless Russian assault on Ukrainian cities, various news outlets worldwide are dedicating sections of their crime-and-justice and general-news segments to cover the tragic events in Odessa and Kharkiv, shedding light on the gravity of the situation.
- Amidst the chaos and devastation brought by the Russian attacks on Odessa and Kharkiv, concerns about employment policies for emergency response personnel, such as firefighters and medical professionals, have emerged in political discussions due to the increased demand for their services.
