Russian missiles attack port infrastructure near Ukraine's Odesa, kill seven and injure 15

A Russian missile attack late ​on Friday on port infrastructure around Ukraine's ‌Black Sea port of Odesa ⁠killed seven ‌people and injured 15, Ukrainian officials said.

"In the late evening, Russia attacked port infrastructure in Odesa region with ballistic missiles," ​Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba wrote on Telegram.

Kuleba and Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said that, according ‌to ‌preliminary reports, seven people were killed and 15 injured. A source ⁠familiar with the matter said the attack was on Pivdennyi -- one of three ports in ⁠the area.

Odesa, a ⁠focal point of Ukrainian grain ‌and other exports, has been ‌a frequent target of Russian attacks since Russia invaded its smaller neighbour in February ‍2022.

The intensity of the attacks has increased in recent days. One strike damaged a bridge southwest of Odesa and cut a major route between the city and the Danube River port of Reni ​and complicated border ‌crossings to Moldova and Romania.