site.btaExplosions Heard in Odesa after Missile, Drone Attacks from Black Sea, Authorities Say

Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa overnight after a ballistic missile strike and subsequent drone attacks launched from the Black Sea, Odesa authorities and local Telegram channels said on Tuesday.

Odesa City Military Administration Head Serhiy Lisak said on Telegram that the city was attacked by a ballistic missile from the Black Sea. Air-raid sirens were activated at 2:28 a.m., and a powerful explosion was heard at 2:32 a.m. in the central part of the city, local Telegram channels reported, adding that the port was the target.

Further explosions were heard later as Odesa came under a drone attack from the Black Sea, local Telegram channels said. According to them, the drones were again heading toward the port, and air-raid sirens were activated at 3:43 a.m.

Regional authorities urged residents to take shelter in bomb shelters, warning of the risk of further launches and drone attacks.

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.