Russian Drone Strike Hits SBU Site in Lviv, Damages Dozens of Buildings in Odesa

Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Odesa early on Thursday morning, March 19, damaging more than a dozen buildings, including a university dormitory, and injuring three people.

According to the head of the Odesa City Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, three districts were affected – Primorsky, Kyivsky, and Khadzhibeysky.

In the Primorsky district, 12 residential buildings were damaged, and 2 people were hospitalized.

In the Kyivsky district, a 22-story residential building and a university dormitory were hit, with about 180 windows shattered. One person received medical assistance on site.

In Khadzhibeysky district, a two-story house sustained partial destruction. Municipal crews have been deployed to clear debris and seal damaged windows.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper also reported that a Shahed drone struck a high-rise building, damaging several apartments, the facade, and glazing.

A communal enterprise was also hit, with equipment and 11 vehicles damaged. All fires have since been extinguished, and emergency services are working at the scene.

Late on March 18, Russian drones also targeted Lviv, striking the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the region, according to regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi.

Damage was reported at the site, and authorities warned residents not to approach drone debris due to the risk of detonation.

A drone strike near Novovolynsk (Volyn region), 15 km from the Polish border, hit an energy facility, triggering power outages and water disruptions.

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Margus Tsahkna said Tallinn has no intention of urging Kyiv to scale back its strikes, even after Ukrainian drones have landed in neighboring countries.

Mayor Borys Karpus said the damage was significant and a fire broke out at the site. Regional authorities reported that more than 30,000 subscribers were left without electricity.

In Kyiv, drone fragments fell onto the roof of a non-residential building in the Holosiivsky district, damaging part of a shopping center wall, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. No casualties or fires were reported.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 133 drones overnight, including about 70 Shahed-type UAVs. Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 109 drones across multiple regions.

However, 20 UAVs struck 11 locations, while debris from downed drones was recorded at 7 additional sites.