Death toll in Russian strike on Odesa rises to eight

WISE NEWS PRESS / ODESA, UKRAINE — DEC. 21, 2025

The death toll from a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa has risen to eight, with 27 others injured, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The attack, which took place on Friday, utilized Iskander-M ballistic missiles and was part of a broader overnight offensive involving 51 drones and multiple missile launches across 15 different locations.

Local officials reported that several of the injured were passengers on a bus during the strike. The attack caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including burnt-out trucks and destroyed private vehicles. Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa regional administration, confirmed that the port infrastructure remains a primary target for Russian ballistic capabilities.

Ukrainian Retaliation in the Caspian Sea

In response to the continued aerial bombardment, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on Saturday that they successfully targeted Russian energy assets. Ukrainian drones struck a drilling platform in the Filanovsky oil and gas field, operated by the Russian energy giant Lukoil, located in the Caspian Sea.

The military also reported striking the Russian patrol ship 'Okhotnik' operating near the Caspian production facilities. These long-range operations signal a strategic shift in Ukraine's ability to hit critical Russian economic infrastructure far from the front lines.

Air Defense Operations and Crimea Strikes

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 31 of the 51 drones launched by Russia were either intercepted or malfunctioned. The majority of the drones were identified as the Iranian-designed Shahed type. Despite the high interception rate, 20 separate strikes were recorded across the country, causing varying degrees of damage to the national power grid and residential areas.

Additionally, Ukrainian drone units targeted the Belbek military airfield in occupied Crimea. Reports indicate that the radar and electronic systems of two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were neutralized during the operation. This marks another significant blow to Russian aerial surveillance and defense systems in the illegally annexed peninsula.

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