At least 20 die in Odesa in Russian missile strike, Ukraine reports

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 

Destruction in Odesa after the Russian attack.
Image: State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Ukraine reported a minimum of 20 dead and over 70 injured in Odesa, Ukraine after a Friday Russian missile strike.

According to the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the attack occurred around 11:00 am (12:00 Moscow time) on March 15. There were two Iskander-M missiles fired from the Russia-annexed peninsula of Crimea. Among the dead are an employee of the State Service of Ukraine for Emergency Situations (SSES) and a paramedic. Civil infrastructure was damaged: residential buildings, outbuildings, vehicles.

As the State Emergency Service clarified, Russian troops fired missiles at Odesa twice. The second missile was fired when rescuers were eliminating the consequences of the first explosion. As a result of the second strike, a service employee was killed. Among the victims are seven employees of the State Emergency Service. Oleg Kiper clarified that there were seriously wounded. Medical workers were also injured. The Ukrainian investigation began an investigation under the article on violation of the laws and customs of war associated with premeditated murder (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

In Odesa and the region, mourning was declared on March 16.

Sources

• Reuters. "Russian missile attack on Odesa kills at least 20 people" — The Guardian, March 15, 2024
• "В результате удара по Одессе погиб 21 человек, в том числе спасатели" — BBC News Online, March 15, 2024