In a series of overnight airstrikes in southern Ukraine, Russian forces have reportedly damaged a Chinese consular building and killed at least three civilians, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes, which targeted the port cities of Odesa and Mykolaiv, have been condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as attempts to "destroy the life of our country."
The Chinese consulate in the Black Sea city of Odesa was among the buildings hit, with regional governor Oleh Kiper posting a photograph showing at least one broken window. However, no other visible damage was reported. Beijing, a Russian ally, has yet to comment on the incident.
The strikes also resulted in civilian casualties. In Odesa, a security guard was killed, and at least eight other people were injured, including a child. In the city of Mykolaiv, a married couple was killed, according to Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych. Regional governor Vitaliy Kim reported that 19 people were injured in the city, and several residential buildings were damaged.
The airstrikes have been described as "retaliatory strikes" by Moscow, following its withdrawal from a deal allowing Ukrainian Black Sea grain shipments. The Russian government has accused Ukraine of being behind blasts on a bridge used to transport Russian military supplies.
The attacks have also had significant economic implications. A Russian attack on the port of Chornomorsk on Wednesday damaged grain export infrastructure and destroyed 60,000 tons of agricultural products destined for China, according to President Zelenskiy. Ukrainian officials have framed these strikes as an attack on global food security, given Ukraine's role as a major grain exporter.
The international community's response to these attacks has been criticized by Mykhailo Podolayk, a senior adviser to Zelenskiy. He called for an emergency convocation of the UN Security Council to discuss global food security, expressing frustration at the international community's perceived inaction.
The ongoing conflict has also led to casualties in other regions of Ukraine. Authorities in the northeastern region of Kharkiv reported that a 61-year-old man was killed by Russian shelling on Thursday.
The recent airstrikes mark a third successive night of Russian attacks on southern Ukrainian port cities, escalating tensions and causing further damage and loss of life in the region.
