Deadly Russian strike hits Odesa as von der Leyen arrives in Ukraine for defence talks
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Russian strikes killed six people and wounded at least 20 across Ukraine on Wednesday, regional authorities said, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv to announce new defence initiatives. Overnight, Ukraine also said it struck 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea, including gas tankers.
By: FRANCE 24 A wounded resident walks near an apartment building damaged by a Russian missile strike in Odesa on July 15, 2026. © Nina Liashonok, Reuters The daytime attacks targeted industrial and medical facilities in the Black Sea port city of Odesa and in the northeastern city of Sumy, near the border with Russia .
"The enemy launched six guided aerial bombs," said Sumy regional governor Oleg Grygorov. "Three people were killed and 17 were wounded.
"Among the dead are a woman and a man," he added. "Another person sustained extremely severe injuries, making it currently impossible to determine their gender."
Odesa endured another day of Russian drone and missile attacks targeting its port and civilian infrastructure, the authorities there said.
"A massive combined missile and drone attack on the Odesa region has been ongoing for the fifth day in a row," said governor Oleg Kiper.
"Three people were killed, and at least three others were injured," he added.
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Russia confirmed the attacks and said it hit a number of targets in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region using precision-guided air-launched weapons and attack drones .
Port infrastructure facilities used for unloading fuel and lubricants as well as fuel storage tanks were hit, Russia said.
In a statement, Russia's defence ministry also said four vessels delivering cargoes for the Ukrainian armed forces were struck in the ports of Chornomorsk and Dnipro-Buh.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday and said she would announce new moves to deepen the integration of European and Ukrainian defence industries.
"I will announce new initiatives to integrate our defence industries. So we can produce more, and faster," she said on X, posting footage of her arrival on the platform.
Ursula von der Leyen arrives in Kyiv on July 15, 2026. © Ursula von der Leyen via X Russia in recent days has stepped up attacks on Ukraine's deepwater Black Sea ports in the Greater Odesa cluster, which are vital to foreign trade and the country's wartime economy.
Overnight on Tuesday, Ukrainian drones also struck 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea overnight, including 17 oil tankers, the commander of Kyiv's drone forces said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the UN reported a sharp rise in civilian deaths through the first half of 2026, hitting a four-year-high in the month of June.
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