The southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa has been hit by a massive drone attack over the past 24 hours, leaving thousands of people without power and heating as temperatures plunged below freezing, local governor Oleh Kiper said.
At least four people were injured, Kiper said in a Telegram post. About 500 residential homes, dozens of schools and kindergartens are currently without power and heating.
A local children's hospital was severely damaged, according to local authorities. Emergency power outages were imposed in Odessa and the region. Russia launched 167 drones of various types and two Iskander missiles over Ukraine, of which 106 drones were shot down, the Ukrainian Air Defense said in a post on Telegram.
Meanwhile, EU states have agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. It will enter into force on the third anniversary of the invasion next Monday, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU announced after a decision at the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States in Brussels.
According to diplomats, the new sanctions package will exclude 13 more banks from the SWIFT financial communications system. In addition, eight Russian media companies will lose their broadcasting licenses in the EU and there will be a broad ban on aluminum imports and an export ban on equipment that could be used to control combat drones.
Even tougher action against the so-called Russian shadow fleet is also planned. Accordingly, the sanctions rules will change so that in the future, captains and ship owners may also be subject to penalties. (A2 Televizion)
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