Russian Drone Strike Injures Four, Damages High-Rise in Odesa

On the night of July 2-3, 2025, Russian forces launched a drone attack on Odesa, targeting a nine-story residential building and causing a fire between its 7th and 9th floors. Despite air defense efforts that downed many drones, the attack resulted in significant structural damage, rendering parts of the building unsafe to enter, and damaged other civilian infrastructure including multiple apartments. Emergency responders evacuated 50 residents, including 10 individuals rescued with specialized equipment, among them two children. Four to five people were injured, with some children hospitalized for combustion product poisoning, while others continue outpatient treatment. The escalation in Russian strikes coincides with a pause in U.S. shipments of key air defense and precision weapons to Ukraine due to low stockpiles, raising concerns about Ukraine's defense capabilities. Local officials including Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov and Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper emphasized ongoing emergency response efforts and the need for detailed structural assessments of damaged buildings.