Ukraine’s Odessa is without electricity after a Russian drone attack

Ukraine’s authorities said the power was cut off in the southern city of Odessa Saturday, following a nighttime attack by Russian “kamikaze” drones.

“So far, the city is without electricity,” Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, said on the Telegram messaging app.

Only critical infrastructure, including hospitals and maternity wards, received electricity.

“The situation is still difficult, but it is under control,” Tymoshenko said.

The Black Sea port of Odessa was a favorite holiday destination for many Ukrainians and Russians before President Vladimir Putin sent troops into pro-Western Ukraine on February 24.

Maxim Marchenko, the governor of the Odessa region, said Russia attacked the city with “kamikaze drones” overnight.

“As a result of the strike, there is no electricity in all the neighborhoods and communities of our region,” he said.

Marchenko added that the Ukrainian air defense units shot down two drones.

On Friday, Kiev said southern regions of the war-torn country, including Odessa, were experiencing the worst blackouts, days after the latest bout of systematic Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.

Russia fired dozens of cruise missiles at key infrastructure in Ukraine on Monday, adding pressure to the country’s already ailing network after repeated attacks.

Russia began targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure after a series of military defeats.

Putin vowed on Thursday to continue striking Ukraine’s power grid despite protests against the attacks that have plunged millions into cold and darkness.