Russian strikes cut power to 300,000 in Odessa, one dead in Kharkiv
Russian ballistic missiles and drones hit Odessa overnight, leaving over 300,000 households without power, while a separate strike on a Kharkiv residential building killed at least one person and injured 37.
Odessa blackout
Russian forces attacked the Odessa region overnight on 8-9 August with ballistic missiles and drones, cutting power to more than 300,000 households. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening video address that by morning over 300,000 households in Odessa and the surrounding region were without electricity, and that one-third had been reconnected by the time he spoke. Repair work was ongoing. At least six people were injured. Zelensky warned that the war would become increasingly felt "for all Russians at home" and said Ukraine had "appropriate answers" ready for every Russian attack, including continued strikes on Russia's oil industry and other infrastructure.
The only reason why this is still ongoing is Russia's lack of willingness to end this war.
Strikes on Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia
In Kharkiv, a Russian strike on a multi-story residential building killed at least one person and injured 37, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram. The search for additional victims under the rubble was continuing. In the Zaporizhzhia region, a firefighter was killed during a rescue operation after Russian shelling. Interior Minister Ivan Vykhivskyi said the team had been searching for victims in the aftermath of a nighttime artillery barrage when they came under fresh attack. The Russian Defence Ministry separately claimed drone strikes on Ukrainian railway networks near Kharkiv, Dnipro and Sumy, saying locomotives and wagons were hit; the claims could not be independently verified.
WHO warehouse destroyed in Dnipro
A Russian strike on Friday destroyed a humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro belonging to the World Health Organization, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The warehouse contained medical emergency supplies for frontline medical facilities. WHO staff and drivers had managed to move 130 of approximately 300 pallets to safety before the strike. No injuries were reported. Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets called the attack a severe blow to vital medicines for hospitals and people at the front.
Ukrainian drone strikes and front-line developments
Ukrainian unmanned systems forces reported striking Russian air defense installations overnight. Commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi said an S-400 Triumf position near Gelendzhik in the Krasnodar region burned for approximately three hours after the attack. The same night saw strikes on a Tor system in Rostov Oblast, a Pantsir-S1 system near Yeysk, and Podlyot-K1 and Kasta-2E2 radar stations in Rostov Oblast. Brovdi called for systematically weakening five elements of Russia's war machine: financing, weapons production, rear-area protection, personnel recruitment and domestic stability perception.
- WHO humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro struck by Russian attack
- Russian ballistic missiles and drones hit Odessa region, cutting power to 300,000+ households
- Zelensky says Russia plans to station 30,000-50,000 North Korean soldiers
- Ukrainian drone forces strike Russian S-400, Tor, Pantsir-S1 and radar systems
- DeepState reports Russian advances near Kramatorsk and Bakhmut
- Zelensky reports 300,000+ households without power in Odessa region
- Zelensky says Fire Point ballistic missiles could be ready in 2-3 months
Ukrainian military analysts DeepState reported Russian advances near Illinivka in the Kramatorsk district and in Chasiv Yar in the Bakhmut district, with sustained attacks using glide bombs, rocket artillery, Shahed drones and FPV drones. Political analyst Oksana Huss told ntv that Russia's targeting of energy and water infrastructure meant a difficult winter was already foreseeable.
North Korean deployment and Ukrainian missile programme
Zelensky said on X that Russia had decided to station 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean soldiers on its territory, more than had been estimated in July. He said North Korean missiles had already been found in Ukraine and that North Korea would continue gaining battlefield experience and receiving licences and military equipment from Russia. Ukrainian diplomats were in contact with Seoul about possible air defence cooperation.
We are ready to also work on the 'drone deal' and in other areas.
Zelensky separately said Ukrainian company Fire Point's ballistic missiles could be ready within two to three months. The smaller FP-7 is undergoing Defence Ministry certification expected to conclude in August, while the larger FP-9 could be available in late autumn. Fire Point claims a range of up to 855 kilometres, enough to reach Moscow from parts of Ukraine, though independent verification is not yet available.
