site.btaUPDATED Explosions Reverberate Through Odesa as Drone Attacks Continue, Damage Reported on Port Infrastructure

A powerful explosion reverberated through the central part of the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa Monday evening. The city was under attack by Russian drones from the Black Sea, according to local channels on Telegram.

Odesa Oblast leader Oleh Kiper reported on Telegram that the drone attacks have caused damage to port infrastructure and a civilian ship.

Nobody is reported hurt.

The air raid alert was issued at 19:46 local time, and an explosion was heard at 19:53. Four drones from the Black Sea were reportedly aimed at the port of Odesa, local Telegram channels report. Regional authorities warned residents to head for the bomb shelters.

There were more explosions earlier on Monday, in Odesa’s large residential districts, Tairovo.

Bulgarians in the Odesa region number more than 150,000 and were the third largest population group in Ukraine in 2001, according to the official census. About 50,000 - 60,000 Bulgarians live in the city of Odesa itself. The largest compact Bulgarian population is concentrated in the Bolhrad, Izmail and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi districts.