Russia-Ukraine war: Air strikes hit 'critical infrastructure' in Ukraine's Odesa

Odesa (Ukraine), April 3: Russian missile strike hit "critical infrastructure" in Ukraine's southern port city, Odesa on Sunday morning, informed Serhii Bratchuk, spokesman of the Operational Staff of Odesa regional military administration. "One of the critical infrastructure objects was hit this morning," and "currently the situation is under control, the respective services are working on site. The details will be announced later," Bratchuk said. Giving details about the attack, Odessa City's Council also posted the information on its official Telegram account and said, "Odessa was attacked from the air. Some of the missiles were downed by our air defence system. In some districts, fire has broken out." Earlier in the day, explosions were heard at a fuel depot in the Ukrainian city of Odesa. According to CNN, which cites many witnesses, various drones were seen in the skies around the area for the past two days. Also Read | Violence expected in Islamabad as PM Imran Khan faces no-trust vote So far, no fatalities have been reported. Meanwhile, the head of Russia's National Defense Control Center, Mikhail Mizintsev, stated that over 60 foreign ships were unable to leave Ukrainian ports due to the threat of shelling and mines. "Over 60 foreign vessels continue to be blocked in Ukrainian ports. The threat of shelling and high mine danger created by the official Kiev in its internal waters and territorial sea does not allow ships to safely go out," said Mizintsev on Saturday. He noted that Russian forces open a humanitarian corridor every day, but there is still a risk of drift of Ukrainian mines torn from anchor along the Black Sea states' coasts. According to Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia's defence ministry, the Ukrainian Navy laid 420 anchor mines in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea between February 25 and March 4. At least ten of these mines have been drifting freely in the western Black Sea since a storm ripped the anchor cables. Also Read | Sri Lanka imposes nationwide social media blackout ahead of protest -PTC News