On the 1092nd day of war, a massive drone attack on Odessa left at least 160,000 residents without heat and electricity. Four people were injured.
Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and nearly 170 drones in 14 Ukrainian regions overnight. The air defense managed to neutralize most of the drones.
On the other hand, the Shahed drones produced by Russia have become more dangerous. They have been modified to carry a more powerful explosive payload, although their range has decreased.
Meanwhile, Ukraine attacked the Sizran refinery in the Russian Samara region last night, where a fire broke out.
One of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine in the Russian Kursk region stated in an interview that his superiors made him believe he was fighting against South Korean soldiers in Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that air defense systems destroyed nine Ukrainian drones in the Bryansk, Tatarstan, and Tula regions, as well as over the Black Sea.
From the battlefield, we move to the realm of diplomacy, where discussions between the US and Russia continue to have effects, at least at a declarative level.
Officials from Western intelligence services and the US Congress claim that Putin is not truly interested in peace, convinced that he can occupy all of Ukraine.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, urged the United States on Tuesday "not to fall into Russian traps," appreciating that Moscow will try to divide the West.
And a senior Ukrainian official stated that negotiations between the Trump administration and Russia without the participation of Ukraine and Europeans will only "fuel Putin's appetite and his confidence that he will win and America will lose."
Keith Kellogg, the special envoy for Ukraine of US President Donald Trump, arrived in Kiev today. Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the three-day visit could include an inspection of the front line, a proposal that the American official has not officially confirmed.
Developments on the Front
- Attack on Odessa - At least 160,000 residents of Odessa were left without heating and electricity on Wednesday morning after a massive attack that resulted in four injuries, reports Ukrainska Pravda. "Following an enemy attack, 14 schools, 13 kindergartens, and a large residential area (over 500 homes) are now without electricity and heating," announced the city's mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, on Telegram. He specified that a children's clinic and a kindergarten were "seriously damaged," and "one injured person" is currently hospitalized. Hennadiy Trukhanov mentioned in his statement "a massive Russian attack" on a densely populated area, without providing further details on the nature of this nighttime strike.
- Massive Missile and Drone Attack - Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 167 drones overnight. The air defense destroyed 106 drones in 14 regions, and 56 drones acting as decoys disappeared from radar without causing damage or casualties, announced the Ukrainian Air Force, without providing information on the missile situation.
- Shahed Drones Are More Dangerous - Substantial modifications have been observed on the Shahed-136 drones produced en masse by Russia, announced the Ukrainian Army's Intelligence Service (GUR). The Shahed-136 drones, renamed Geran-2 in Russia, now have a heavier warhead and additional ballast. The upgraded version now carries a 90 kg warhead, almost double the explosive capacity of the previous model, 50 kg. This significantly increases its destructive capability. However, due to the heavier payload, the drone's range has decreased from 1,350 km to about 650 km, limiting its range but making it more destructive in shorter-range attacks, as reported by Kyiv Independent. A sticker with "agricultural equipment parts" written in English and Chinese, with a production date of 2024, was found on an antenna used on the drone. Since the fall of 2022, Russia has launched thousands of cheap but effective Shahed drones, designed by Iran, against cities and infrastructure in Ukraine.
- North Korean Captured in Kursk Thought He Was Fighting South Koreans - One of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine stated in an interview that his superiors made him believe he was fighting against South Korean soldiers in Ukraine, as reported by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper cited by EFE on Wednesday. Identified only by his last name, Ri, the soldier stated that he did not know he would be entering combat in Ukraine, believed there were South Korean troops on the battlefield, and desired to go to the South after release. Ri, who suffered severe jaw and arm injuries, also mentioned that most of his battalion comrades (between 63 and 65 people) were killed by Ukrainian drone or artillery strikes and that he would have tried to blow himself up if he had a grenade since being taken prisoner of war is considered treason in North Korea. "I am 80% sure about my future. First, I will request refugee status in South Korea. If I request it, will you accept me?" Ri asked the journalist, marking the first time a North Korean soldier held captive in Ukraine expressed an intention to go to South Korea.
- Heavy Fighting in Pokrovsk - In the last 24 hours, 156 battles took place along the front line. The Pokrovsk sector remains the most active point, with 50 battles occurring in the mentioned interval, announced the Ukrainian General Staff.
- Ukrainians Hit a North Korean Self-Propelled Howitzer - Ukrainian forces destroyed a North Korean self-propelled howitzer on the eastern front, announced the Ukrainian army on Tuesday. According to Reuters, it is the first time since the start of the conflict that a North Korean М-1978 Koksan howitzer was hit by a Ukrainian drone. Authorities also presented a video showing a military target being destroyed.
Developments in Russia
- Fire at Refinery - Ukraine attacked the oil refinery in the city of Sizran in the Samara region last night, announced regional governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev in the morning, as reported by Reuters. "Emergency services are working on the enterprise's territory. According to preliminary information, there are no victims," he wrote. He did not specify if the refinery was damaged. Telegram channels Baza and Mash reported that the attack caused a fire. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that air defense systems destroyed nine Ukrainian drones overnight - over the Bryansk, Tatarstan, and Tula regions, as well as the Black Sea. The Sizran refinery was previously attacked by drones in March last year.
Other Relevant Information
- Western Spy Warning - Officials from Western intelligence services and the US Congress claim that Putin is not taking a peace deal with Ukraine seriously, as reported by NBC News. "We have no information that Putin is interested in a real peace deal right now. He believes he is on the verge of winning (the war)," stated a source from Congress. A Western intelligence official mentioned that Putin is not concerned about significant losses in his army. Putin remains interested in occupying all of Ukraine and believes that Russia can prevail in the confrontation with Kiev and Europe, according to the sources.
- EU Urges US Not to Fall into Russian Traps - The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, urged the United States on Tuesday "not to fall into Russian traps," noting that Moscow will attempt to divide the West after the Russian-American discussions on Ukraine in Riyadh, as reported by AFP. "Together with European foreign ministers, I spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his talks in Riyadh. Russia will try to divide us. Let's not fall into their traps," she wrote on X. "By working together with the United States, we can achieve a just and lasting peace - for Ukraine's sake," Kaja Kallas added.
- Trump's Man Arrives in Kiev - Keith Kellogg, the special envoy for Ukraine of US President Donald Trump, arrived by train at the Kiev train station today, coming from Poland, for a three-day visit. Upon arrival, he stated that his mission is primarily to "listen" to Ukraine's concerns and convey them to the White House. "We understand the need for security guarantees. We understand... the importance of this nation's sovereignty. Part of my mission is to sit, listen, and see what your concerns are," he said. Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that Kellogg's visit could include an inspection of the front line, a proposal that the American official has not officially confirmed.
- Ukraine criticizes Trump - Donald Trump's administration negotiations with Russia without the participation of Ukraine and Europeans will only "fuel Putin's appetite and his confidence that he will win and America will lose," a senior Ukrainian official told AFP on Tuesday on condition of anonymity. The Ukrainian official believes that Trump's team is repeating the tactics of previous American presidents. "Obama before 2014 and Biden before this war both talked to Putin (...), about us without us, about Europe without Europe, and someone from Trump's team led him in the same direction. It seems that someone from Trump's team or a close associate is sketching unrealistic perspectives regarding Russia," the Ukrainian official added.
- Trump, sharp reply to Ukraine - The American president expressed "disappointment" and rejected Kiev's comments regarding Ukraine's absence from the Russian-American talks in Saudi Arabia, saying that Kiev could have reached an agreement with Russia three years ago to avoid Moscow's invasion. Details HERE.