Odesa: At least 14 dead and dozens injured in Russian 'double tap' missile strike

A first missile struck houses and when emergency crews arrived at the scene a second missile landed
Aftermath of a Russian missile attack in Odesa
Firefighters work at the site of the Russian missile strike
via REUTERS
Matt Watts15 March 2024

A Russian missile strike on Odesa in southern Ukraine on Friday killed at least 14 people and injured 46 others, local officials said.

A first missile struck houses and when emergency crews arrived at the scene a second missile landed, authorities said.

Among those killed were a paramedic and an emergency service worker.

At least 10 houses in Odesa and some emergency service equipment were damaged in the attack, which started a blaze, according to Ukraine's Emergency Service and regional governor Oleh Kiper.

The tactic of firing a second missile at the same location, aiming to hit rescuers, is known in military terms as a double tap. Such strikes often hit civilians.

Aftermath of a Russian missile attack in Odesa
Firefighters work at the site of the Russian missile strike
via REUTERS
Aftermath of a Russian missile attack in Odesa
Rescuers carry an injured colleague
via REUTERS
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services help their colleague injured during a Russian attack
AP

The attack occurred as Russians voted in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin's rule by another six years after he crushed dissent and as the war in Ukraine stretches into its third year.

Odesa, home to Ukraine's Black sea port infrastructure with a population of around a million , has long been a target of Russian attacks, especially after Moscow quit a UN brokered deal that allowed safe passage for Ukrainian grain shipments. In recent weeks, Moscow has stepped up its attacks.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper announced that a day of mourning in Odesa will be held on Saturday - the second such observance in less than two weeks. On March 2, a Russian drone struck a multi-storey building, killing 12 people, including five children.

Overnight, two people were killed and three wounded in Ukraine's central Vinnytsia region after Russia struck a building with a drone, according to regional governor Serhii Borzov.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down all 27 Shahed drones that Russia launched over Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi and Kyiv regions.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday air defence systems shot down seven Vampire missiles launched by Ukraine at Russia's Belgorod region

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-CONFLICT-BELGOROD
A photo published on the official Telegram account of Belgorod mayor Valentin Demidov, was said to show a damaged car following fresh aerial attacks
TELEGRAM / @v_v_demidov/AFP via

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