site.btaExplosions Reported in Odesa as Air Raid Alert Declared, Regional Governor Says

Explosions were heard in Odesa as an air raid alert was declared in this Black Sea city in Southern Ukraine, Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, said on his Telegram channel.

Local Telegram channels reported that drones were attacking Odesa from the Black Sea area.

Local authorities urged residents to take cover in designated shelters. The air raid alert was declared at 2:27 am local time.

Bulgarians in 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. The largest compact Bulgarian population is concentrated in the Bolhrad, Izmail and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi districts.