Russian forces attacked Izmail in Ukraine’s Odesa region with strike drones early on Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, sparking a large fire and injuring one person.
Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration (OVA), said on Telegram:
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“Infrastructure and production facilities were damaged in Izmail. Fires broke out at the site, which were quickly extinguished by our firefighters.”
The injured man received all necessary medical care.
According to the State Emergency Service (DSNS), the strikes caused a large-scale fire at a fuel and energy facility; 54 rescuers, 16 emergency units, and a Ukrzaliznytsia fire train were involved in containing the blaze.
Russian troops also launched drone strikes against the Okhtyrka community in the Sumy region, targeting the private sector. Explosions triggered multiple fires, with local Telegram channels reporting over 20 blasts.
Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy OVA, said emergency services were deployed immediately and victims received medical assistance.
Later, regional police confirmed Okhtyrka itself had been hit: an apartment building, 13 private homes, an outbuilding, and a garage were damaged. In total, 12 people, including two children, were injured.
“Russian troops have once again demonstrated their cynical disregard for civilian lives, deliberately attacking residential areas,” police said.
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Criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code – war crimes.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, responded on Telegram:
“These attacks must be ended. While the aggressor speaks of peace, its strikes show that Russia is in no hurry to end the war.”
Yermak stressed that Ukraine’s priorities remain strengthening air, land, and sea security, along with maintaining pressure on Russia to stop the war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram that 14 people were injured in a drone strike on Okhtyrka.
“A family with wounded children - 5 months, 4 years, and 6 years old - appealed for help after the shelling,” he said.
According to Zelensky, in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region, five apartment buildings were damaged by a guided bomb, and at least three people remain trapped under the rubble. A rescue operation is underway.
“There was also a vile attack on a gas distribution station in the Odesa region. There were also shellings in the Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Poltava regions. In total, more than 60 drones and a ballistic missile,” Zelensky wrote.
He added that these are demonstrative strikes that only confirm the need for continued pressure on Moscow, including new sanctions and tariffs, until diplomacy “works to its full potential.”
“I thank all partners who are helping to stop this Russian war. Together with the US, Europe, and all those who want peace, we work every day to guarantee security. We need strong security guarantees to ensure a truly reliable and lasting peace,” he said.
According to the Air Force, beginning at 19:30 on Aug. 19, Russian forces launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, along with 93 Shahed attack drones and other decoy UAVs.
As of 09:00, preliminary data showed Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed one Iskander-M missile and 62 Shahed and decoy drones in the north and east of the country.
However, one missile and drones struck targets at 20 locations.
This news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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