Russian Attacks ‘Colossally’ Damage Odesa Power Grid, Killing 3 and Injuring Dozens

Russian forces conducted a nighttime drone attack, causing widespread damage to residential buildings and social infrastructure and hitting a DTEK Odesa Electric Grids energy facility.

“The destruction is colossal, and repair work will take a long time to return the equipment to working condition,” the company said.

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DTEK added that teams began emergency restoration work after receiving permission from rescuers and the military.

“Specialists are inspecting the equipment, clearing debris, and then starting repair work,” the company said.

The head of the Odesa City Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, said on Telegram that a nighttime drone attack had caused large-scale destruction, damaging residential buildings and social infrastructure.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported that a two-story residential building was damaged. At another location, an apartment on the second floor of a two-story building was destroyed.

Apartments on the second through fourth floors of a four-story residential building were also damaged. Fires broke out on the fourth and fifth floors after a nine-story building was hit.

A cultural and religious facility was damaged, windows in nearby buildings were shattered, and several cars were damaged.

“Residents of damaged apartments were evacuated to Invincibility Points. Preliminary information suggests that three people may still be under the rubble. Emergency rescue operations are ongoing, and canine units have been deployed,” the DSNS said.

The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, later reported that Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on the region, using more than 50 attack drones.

“The attack damaged dozens of residential buildings, a church, a kindergarten, a lyceum, a fitness center, and private vehicles. Large-scale fires broke out in several locations,” Kiper wrote.

According to him, dozens of apartments in several multi-story buildings were destroyed or damaged. Facades were damaged and windows shattered.

As of now, 23 people have been injured. Nine people have been hospitalized, including two children (girls born in 2013 and 2008) and a pregnant woman in her 39th week. One person is in serious condition, while eight others are in moderate condition.

All emergency services continue to deal with the aftermath of the attack. Operational headquarters have been deployed to coordinate assistance, while municipal workers are clearing debris and securing affected areas.

Later, Kiper reported that one person was killed in the Russian attack.

“During search and rescue operations after the nighttime strike on Balkivska Street in the Peresypskyi district, the body of a man, presumably elderly, was found under the rubble. My sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” he wrote.

Kiper further clarified that during rubble-clearing operations on Prokhorovskaya Street, rescuers found the body of a 52-year-old man.

The death of another person was later confirmed after rescuers discovered the body of a woman born in 1974.

“Condolences to the family and loved ones,” Kiper added.

As of now, the death toll stands at three.

On Monday evening, Jan. 26, Kharkiv came under a combined Russian missile and drone attack.

According to the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, two people were injured and are receiving medical care. Two schools in the city’s Industrial District were damaged.

Energy infrastructure was also hit, causing serious damage. Syniehubov said all emergency services are working to eliminate the consequences of the strike and restore power as quickly as possible.

“We are working around the clock to restore electricity to Kharkiv residents’ homes,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kryvyi Rih, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, was attacked by Russian strike drones on Monday evening and overnight, said Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s Defense Council.

“A Shahed drone hit a nine-story building in the Ternivskyi district, causing a fire,” Vilkul wrote on Telegram.

The fire was quickly extinguished, and no casualties were reported, as there were no residents in the apartments struck by the drone.

Five additional apartment buildings were damaged. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, with all utility services working at the site.

“Many windows were shattered. Given the freezing temperatures, they need to be temporarily sealed as soon as possible. Gas supply to the damaged entrance has been shut off, and restoration work is underway. Other utilities are functioning normally,” Vilkul said.

In the city of Brody, in the Lviv region, smoke and a strong odor were recorded after a morning attack on an infrastructure facility.

“Currently, smoke is spreading over the city and there is a noticeable unpleasant smell. We ask residents to keep windows and doors tightly closed and, if possible, limit movement outdoors,” the city council said in a statement.

On Tuesday, classes at schools in Brody were canceled. Kindergartens that had already accepted children continued to operate, provided that windows and doors remained tightly closed.

Later, the city council clarified that the smoke was caused by the combustion of petroleum products. Air quality measurements are currently underway in nearby settlements to assess levels of harmful substances from the combustion products.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian attack on Odesa, saying that all emergency services are working at the scene to assist those affected.

“The rescue operation will continue until the fate of all people who may be under the rubble is clarified,” Zelensky said.

He added that other regions were also hit overnight, including Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv. According to the president, Russian forces targeted energy and other critical infrastructure, leaving people injured.

Zelensky said Russia launched a total of 165 strike drones across Ukraine overnight, around 100 of which were Shahed-type drones.

“Each such Russian strike undermines diplomacy, which is still ongoing, and in particular strikes at the efforts of partners who are working to end this war,” he said.

“We expect that the United States, Europe, and other partners will not remain silent and will remember that real peace requires pressure on Moscow - sanctions, blocking Russian operations, and shutting down the entire infrastructure of the Russian tanker fleet,” Zelensky added.

He stressed that without pressure on the aggressor, wars do not stop - just as without support for the defenders.

This news story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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