Russian forces launched “Iskander-M” ballistic missiles from Crimea for today’s attack on Odesa

Russian forces launched  "Iskander-M" ballistic missiles at the southern city of Odesa from the occupied Crimea, Rubryka reports, citing Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces.

"The enemy cunningly struck Odesa with ballistic missiles, launching them from the temporarily occupied Crimea," the military's statement said.

They specified that the strike destroyed a three-story recreational building and damaged at least ten private houses, a service station, a low-pressure gas pipeline, an ambulance, and fire and rescue vehicles.

Clearing the rubble is ongoing. As of now, there are reports of 14 killed, including local residents, a medic, and a rescuer.

46 people have been injured, including eight rescuers. Emergency services are working at the scene.

What we know about Russian rocket strike on Odesa on March 15

Russian forces attacked Odesa on Friday. The target of the attack was civilian infrastructure. An air raid alert was declared in the region at 11:01. A powerful explosion occurred in Odesa at 11:04, after which the Air Force reported a missile heading toward the city. Subsequently, another explosion was heard in the city.

As of 12:44, the attack reportedly killed a paramedic and an emergency services worker. Emergency services arrived to provide assistance to the victims after the initial strike and explosion when Russian forces inflicted another rocket attack on the scene. Some medical and rescue workers are severely wounded. 

The city authorities reported that educational institutions had informed that all children who were in schools and kindergartens at the time of the attack were safe.

Later, local authorities reported 14 killed and 46 injured. March 16 was declared the day of mourning.

During the night of March 15, air defense forces in Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, and Kyiv regions downed all 27 "Shahed" drones used by Russia to attack Ukraine.